Eupatorium compositifolium

Yankeeweed
Conservation status

Secure  (NatureServe)[1]
Scientific classification
Kingdom: Plantae
(unranked): Angiosperms
(unranked): Eudicots
(unranked): Asterids
Order: Asterales
Family: Asteraceae
Tribe: Eupatorieae
Genus: Eupatorium
Species: E. compositifolium
Binomial name
Eupatorium compositifolium
Walter, Fl. Carol.

Eupatorium compositifolium commonly called Yankeeweed is a herbaceous perennial plant in Asteraceae native from North Carolina to Florida, west to Texas.[2] Like other members of the genus Eupatorium it has inflorescences containing a large number of white flowers with disc florets and no ray florets, and is 0.5 to 2 metres tall.[3]

It is closely related to Eupatorium capillifolium and Eupatorium leptophyllum and some authors consider all of them to be varieties of E. capillifolium.[4] However, E. compositifolium is not as tall as E. capillifolium and is found in dryer areas.[5]

Because it is not grazed by livestock, and mostly not eaten by wildlife, it is considered undesirable in places like pastures and controlled by means such as herbicides.[6]

References

  1. "Eupatorium compositifolium". NatureServe Explorer. NatureServe. Retrieved 2010-09-12.
  2. "Eupatorium compositifolium". Flora of North America.
  3. "Eupatorium". Flora of North America.
  4. "Eupatorium capillifolium". Fire Effects Information System. U.S. Department of Agriculture, Forest Service, Rocky Mountain Research Station, Fire Sciences Laboratory. Retrieved 2008-08-06.
  5. Gregory E. MacDonald, Barry J. Brecke and Donn G. Shilling (Jul–Sep 1992). "Factors Affecting Germination of Dogfennel (Eupatorium capillifolium) and Yankeeweed (Eupatorium compositifolium)". Weed Science 40 (3): 424–428. JSTOR 4045284.
  6. Robert E. Meyer and Rodney W. Bovey (Jan–Mar 1991). "Response of Yankeeweed (Eupatorium compositifolium) and Associated Pasture Plants to Herbicides". Weed Technology 5 (1): 214–217. JSTOR 3986818.