Emilia sonchifoliaEmilia sonchifoliaTaxonomy
Emilia sonchifolia (L.) DC., Contr. Bot. India 24. 1834Common synonyms
Cacalia sonchifolia L.; Crassocephalum sonchifolium (L.) Less.; Emilia purpurea Cass.; Emilia rigidula DC.; Emilia sinica Miq.; Gynura ecalyculata DC.; Senecio sonchifolius (L.) Moench; Senecio sonchifolius var. bogorensis Hochr.; Senecio sonchifolius var. sonchifoliusCommon name
Cupid’s Shaving-Brush, red or lilac tasselflower
Description
Propagule or dispersal unit is the fruit with pappus. Fertile part 2.2-4 mm long, 0.3-0.6 mm wide, in side view mostly +/- equal thickness (cylindrical) or widest in the middle, +/- straight, the upper (apical) end narrowing, rarely suddenly cut off (truncate) (by misinterpretation), in cross-section round (terete), rarely angular (prismatic) (by misinterpretation), basal scar (carpopodium) pronounced and well-differentiated, central, beak (=thinner sterile stalk between seed and pappus) absent, wings absent, fruit surface light brown or straw or dark brown, smooth (except at cellular level), with simple straight hairs, thickened margin absent, longitudinal ribs present, 5, with no hairs (glabrous).
Pappus type bristles / hairs, pappus elements all +/- similar, up to 5-13 mm long, in several rows, pappus elements numerous, elements falling off individually, the individual bristles rough / serrated (barbellate), +/- equal width along length, white / translucent.
Ecology
Short-lived herb, seeds wind-dispersed. Tropical regions. Used in herbal medicine. Weed of croplands but also pastures, gardens, parks, distrubed sites and wastelands, and along roads.
Native range
Presumed native to tropical Asia.
Introduced range
Florida, Mexico, Central America, Caribbean, northern half of South America, tropical Africa including Madagascar, southern and southeastern Asia, tropical Australia, Pacific islands.
