Pluchea carolinensis (Jacq.) G.Don

  • Authority

    Acevedo-Rodríguez, Pedro & collaborators. 1996. Flora of St. John, U.S. Virgin Islands. Mem. New York Bot. Gard. 78: 1-581.

  • Family

    Asteraceae

  • Scientific Name

    Pluchea carolinensis (Jacq.) G.Don

  • Description

    Species Description - Erect shrub 1-2 m tall, with many lateral branches; stems pubescent to sometimes glabrate, irregularly angled. Leaf blades 4-15 x 1.5-6 cm, broadly elliptic to lanceolate, chartaceous to nearly coriaceous, the upper surface puberulent to nearly glabrous, the lower surface pubescent to puberulent, weakly glandular, the margins entire to subentire; petioles 0.5-1.5(-2.5) cm long, pubescent to densely so. Inflorescence a broadly rounded corymbiform panicle to 15 x 20 cm, with numerous heads. Heads 6-8 x 8-10 mm; involucre hemispheric to bell-shaped, 3-4-seriate, ca. 5 mm tall; involucral bracts many, pubescent, occasionally weakly glandular, becoming glabrous, especially toward tips of inner involucral bracts, the outer ones ovate, apically rounded, the inner ones linear-lanceolate, apically attenuate to acuminate, very innermost late-deciduous; receptacle glabrous, ca. 2 mm broad; peduncles 4-10 mm long, densely pubescent. Outer flowers with corollas 3.5-4 mm long. Inner flowers 15 or more; corollas 4-5 mm long, lightly glandular at tips. Achenes filiform, 0.5-1 mm long, weakly puberulent, ribs obscure or 1 or 2 apparent; pappus of ca. 10 bristles, ca. 4 mm long.

  • Discussion

    Pluchea odorata sensu Godfrey, J. Elisha Mitchell Sci. Soc. 68: 247. 1952, non (L.) Cass., 1826.

    Pluchea symphytifolia of many authors, non (Mill ) Gillis, 1977.

    Common names: cattle tongue, ovra bla, ramgoat bush, sourbush, sweet scent.

  • Distribution

    Common in coastal scrubs and disturbed areas. Emmaus (A2440, A3239), Maria Bluff (A609). Also on St. Croix, St. Thomas, Tortola, and Virgin Gorda; throughout much of the West Indies, Florida, Mexico, Central America, northern South America, and the Pacific region.

    South America| Central America| México Mexico North America| Florida United States of America North America| West Indies| Virgin Gorda Virgin Islands South America| Tortola Virgin Islands South America| Saint Thomas Virgin Islands of the United States South America| Saint Croix Virgin Islands of the United States South America|