Asteraceae

Elephantopus L.

First published in Sp. Pl.: 814 (1753)
This genus is accepted
The native range of this genus is Tropics & Subtropics to N. America.

Descriptions

Compositae, H. Beentje, C. Jeffrey & D.J.N. Hind. Flora of Tropical East Africa. 2005

Morphology General Habit
Perennial herbs with annual stems from woody rootstocks; roots many, thong-like; indument of stiff hairs; stems branching in their distal part
Morphology Leaves
Leaves alternate, the upper ones diminishing in size and grading into inflorescence bracts
Morphology Reproductive morphology Inflorescences Capitulum
Capitula homogamous, few-flowered, tightly packed into glomerules subtended by bracts; phyllaries few-seriate, ± cartilaginous with pungent apices
Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers Corolla
Corolla 5-lobed, more deeply cleft on one side.
Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers Androecium Stamens Anthers
Anthers sagittate.
Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers Gynoecium Style
Style branches linear, hairy
Morphology Reproductive morphology Fruits
Achenes 10-ribbed, usually glandular between the ribs; pappus 1-seriate, the bases scale-like but rapidly tapering and barbellate bristle-like above.
[FTEA]

Compositae, G. V. Pope. Flora Zambesiaca 6:1. 1992

Morphology General Habit
Perennial ± hirsute herbs with annual stems from woody rootstocks; roots numerous, thong-like.
Morphology General Indumentum
Vegetative indumentum sparse to dense, consisting of patent to appressed stiff bristle-like hairs.
Morphology Stem
Stems 1-several, leafy or scapiform, branching above.
Morphology Leaves
Leaves alternate, often basal, sessile, or narrowly attenuate and petiole-like before widening into a ± stem-clasping, ± stem-sheathing base; upper leaves grading into leaf-like bracts.
Morphology Reproductive morphology Inflorescences Capitulum
Capitula homogamous, few-flowered, numerous, syncephalous in bracteate glomerules; glomerules terminal on stiff synflorescence branches, laxly corymbiform-cymose tending to be subscorpioid-cymose in arrangement.
Morphology Reproductive morphology Inflorescences Bracts Involucre
Involucres narrowly ovoid-cylindric; phyllaries few-seriate, ± cartilaginous with pungent apices, strigose to densely hispid or glabrescent.
Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers Receptacle
Receptacle small, plane.
Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers Corolla
Corollas 5-lobed, asymmetric, more deeply cleft on one side.
Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers Androecium Stamens Anthers
Anthers sagittate at the base.
Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers Gynoecium Style
Style arms linear-terete, hairy.
Morphology Reproductive morphology Fruits
Achenes narrowly turbinate-cylindric, c. 10-ribbed, usually glandular between the ribs, setulose; pappus 1-seriate, setae 5–10 with bases broad scale-like and usually overlapping, gradually or abruptly tapering and subterete barbellate above.
[FZ]

Sources

  • Flora Zambesiaca

    • Flora Zambesiaca
    • http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-sa/3.0

  • Flora of Tropical East Africa

    • Flora of Tropical East Africa
    • http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-sa/3.0

  • Herbarium Catalogue Specimens

  • Kew Backbone Distributions

    • The International Plant Names Index and World Checklist of Vascular Plants 2024. Published on the Internet at http://www.ipni.org and https://powo.science.kew.org/
    • © Copyright 2023 World Checklist of Vascular Plants. http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0

  • Kew Names and Taxonomic Backbone

    • The International Plant Names Index and World Checklist of Vascular Plants 2024. Published on the Internet at http://www.ipni.org and https://powo.science.kew.org/
    • © Copyright 2023 International Plant Names Index and World Checklist of Vascular Plants. http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0