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Synonyms: |
Eupatorium adenophorum Spreng. |
Common names: | Crofton weed (English) |
Frequency: | Occasional, sometimes locally abundant. |
Status: | Introduced |
Description: |
Perennial herb to 1(-2.5) m. Stems reddish-brown and markedly glandular-pubescent, especially above. Leaves opposite: petiole up to 4 cm; lamina up to 10 × 6 cm, ovate or rhombic, dark green above, paler beneath; base cuneate; apex acute to acuminate; margin crenate. Capitula c. 5 × 5 mm, crowded in corymbs. Phyllaries 2-seriate, lanceolate, glandular-pubescent. Flowers white, often appearing in the winter. Achenes c. 2 mm, ± cylindric, smoothly 5-angled. Pappus of numerous scabrid bristles. |
Notes: | An aggressive weed, causing acute lung disease in grazing horses and skin allergies in humans (Mabberley, 1997). Said to be cultivated as an ornamental in Maroyi (2006). |
Derivation of specific name: | adenophora: gland-bearing |
Habitat: | Well naturalised on roadsides, in open woodland, by marshy ground and along streams, often forming large patches; probably an escape from cultivation. |
Altitude range: (metres) | 1360 - 1900 m |
Flowering time: | Aug - Sep |
Worldwide distribution: | Native of Mexico; c.290 species in the Eastern USA, C and W South America; 2 species naturalised in the Old World. |
Zimbabwe distribution: | N,C,E |
Growth form(s): | |
Endemic status: | |
Red data list status: | |
Insects associated with this species: | |
Spot characters: | Display spot characters for this species |
Images last updated: | Monday 10 January 2011 |
Literature: |
Beentje, H.J. & Ghazanfar, S.A. (eds.) (2005). Compositae (Part 3) Flora of Tropical East Africa Pages 831 - 833. (Includes a picture). Mapaura, A. & Timberlake, J. (eds) (2004). A checklist of Zimbabwean vascular plants Southern African Botanical Diversity Network Report No. 33 Sabonet, Pretoria and Harare Page 23. |
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