Praxelis

Praxelis clematidea

Family: Asteraceae.

Form: Herb

Origin: Native of northern Argentina, southern Brazil, Paraguay, Bolivia and Peru.

Flowers/Seedhead: Flowerheads of several to many heads in flat-topped clusters, each head 0.7–1.0 cm long.

Description: Erect perennial herb to 1 m high. Plant covered with coarse segmented hairs. Leaves opposite, ovate to rhomboid with a pointed tip, 2.5–6 cm long and 1–4 cm wide, gland-dotted and hairy on both surfaces especially below, margins toothed; leaf stalk 0.3–2 cm long.

Distinguishing features: Distinguished by pungent aroma; up to 20 unequal bracts around base of flowerheads; 25–50 lilac or bluish small flowers (florets) on a highly conical area of attachment (receptacle) with non-persistent bracts; seeds 2–3 mm long, black, crowned with bristles about 4 mm long.

Dispersal: Spread by seed, particularly by vehicles, wind and as a contaminant of produce and landscaping materials.

Confused With: Ageratum conyzoides (note persistent and differently shaped bracts in photos on front of card), Ageratum houstonianum and Chromolaena odorata.