Chromolaena odorata (L.) R.M.King & H.Rob.
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Authority
Acevedo-Rodríguez, Pedro & collaborators. 1996. Flora of St. John, U.S. Virgin Islands. Mem. New York Bot. Gard. 78: 1-581.
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Family
Asteraceae
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Scientific Name
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Description
Species Description - Erect herb to shrub 1-3 m tall; stems branched above, densely pilose to puberulent. Leaf blades 2.5-12 x 1.2-7.5 cm, deltoid to rhombic-ovate, chartaceous, 3-veined from near base, the upper surface puberulent to glabrous, the lower surface pubescent, densely red-glandular, the apex acuminate, the base cuneate-attenuate to subtruncate, the margins entire to serrate; petioles 0.4-2.5 cm long, pilose. Inflorescence terminal, corymbiform-paniculate, to 8 x 4 cm. Heads ca. 15-25-flowered, 9-12 x 3-4.5 mm; involucre 8-9.5 mm long, 5-6-seriate; involucral bracts ca. 15, glabrous to sparingly puberulent, scarious or with subherbaceous tips, the outer ones oblong-elliptic, ca. 2 x 1 mm , with rounded apex grading to the lanceolate inner ones, ca. 9 X 1.3 mm , with acute apex; receptacle shortly club-shaped, ca. 1.3 x 1 mm; peduncle 1-15 mm long, weakly pilose, sparingly glandular. Corollas 4.3-6 mm long, white to pale lavender. Achenes 3.5-4 mm long; pappus bristles 5-6 mm long.
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Discussion
Eupatorium conyzoides Vahl, Symb. Bot. 3: 96. 1794, non Mill., 1768.
Common names: bitter bush, Christmas bush, geritoo.
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Distribution
A n occasional roadside weed. Coral Bay Quarter at km 3.5 along Road 107 (A3767), Cruz Bay (A2360), Susannaberg (A3092). Also on St. Croix, St. Thomas, and Tortola; widespread in tropical and subtropical America from the southern United States to southern South America and introduced into the paleotropics.
South America| United States of America North America| Saint Thomas Virgin Islands of the United States South America| Tortola Virgin Islands South America| Saint Croix Virgin Islands of the United States South America|