Tassel Flower

Title

Tassel Flower

Authors

Ethan H. Freid

Scientific Name

Emilia fosbergii Nicolson

Description

Common Names

Tassel Flower, Purple Emilia

Asteraceae

Emilia fosbergii grows as an herbaceous annual to about 1 meter in height (usually much shorter). The leaves are arranged alternately, to 8 cm in length and without petioles; sagittately clasping to the stem. The leaves are obovate to oblanceolate with an acute or obtuse leaf apex and dentate to lobed margin. The leaves have a sparse covering of pubescence.

The actinomorphic flowers are arranged in heads. The head is subtended by a series of phyllaries forming an urn-shaped involucre. The calyx has been reduced to a series of fine hairs (pappus). The corolla has 5 fused, salmon-red petals. There are 5 stamens that are fused to the inside of the corolla tube. The inferior ovary has a single locule. The fruit is an achene that retains the pappus at maturity. The pappus aids in aerial fruit/seed dispersal.

Emilia fosbergii grows in human-disturbed habitats such as yards, roadsides and abandoned fields.

Emilia fosbergii occurs throughout the Bahamian Archipelago as well as the southern United States to California and Hawaii, the entire Caribbean region and South America.

Emilia fosbergii is not used medicinally in the Bahamas.