New sightings of pussytoes reported in South-Eastern Finland’s Lappeenranta region

In June, the South-Eastern Finland ELY Centre issued a public appeal regarding the rare flower, the pussytoes. This initiative proved successful, with reports leading to the identification of 50 new locations for the monitored plant. By mid-August, 30 individuals had submitted sightings.

Additionally, nature surveyors mapped a stretch along the Kuutostie highway from Lappeenranta to Taavetti in Luumäki, covering 70 kilometers, which revealed three more occurrences of the pussytoes. These submissions have increased overall sightings of the plant in South-Eastern Finland by three percent, as reported by the ELY Centre. Currently, there are nearly 1,500 recorded observations of the pussytoes.

This charming yet threatened meadow flower grows to about 20 centimeters tall and gets its name from its flower clusters, which resemble furry paws at the top of the stem. The white flowers are male, while the distinctly reddish ones are females, as the male and female flowers exist on separate plants.

Pussytoes thrive in sunny environments, preferring barren and dry habitats like open meadows and rocky slopes. However, the loss of these open spaces due to cessation of traditional farming and grazing practices has led to a decline in their numbers. The flower has adapted by establishing new growth areas along roadsides and railway embankments, according to the ELY Centre. However, the invasive wild lupin poses a threat as it displaces the pussytoes from these habitats. Sightings can still be reported at laji.fi, with submissions contributing to the Natural History Museum of Finland’s observation database.