AGERATINA ADENOPHORA

Family:- COMPOSITAE

Common Names:- Croftonweed

Synonyms:- Eupatorium adenophorum.

Meaning:- Ageratina (Gr) Possibly diminutive of ageratum = un-ageing.

Adenophora (Gr) Gland-bearing.

General description:- Perennial herb or shrub. Erect or scrambling up to 200 cm.

Stems:-

1) Petioles and peduncles with short glandular hairs.

Leaves:-

1) Unlobed, rhombic or triangular, crenate-serrate except for the cuneate or

truncate basal portion; petiole c. ½ as long as the lamina.

Flowers:-

1) Capitula, 5-10 mm diam.

2) Receptacle, flat or convex, without scales. All florets tubular, hermaphrodite.

5-lobed or dentate, white, pink or purplish.

4) Bracts, broadly scarious reddish, acute or acuminate, glandular-serrulate above,

and with scattered purplish glandular hairs.

5) Outer bracts, about as long as the inner.

Fruit:-

1) Achenes, c. 2 mm, black; oblong or fusiform, 5-angled, truncate at the apex.

2) Pappus hairs in 1 row, 5-10 denticulate.

Key features:-

1) Stems and petioles densely glandular-pubescent; leaves simple

Habitat:- Damp places along streams, hedges, orchards and ruderal habitats. 0-

350 m.

Distribution:- Mexican plant that has become established in the Mediterranean

region and grows sub-spontaneously in Crete.

Flowering time:- Apr-June, sometimes later.

Photos by:- Fotis Samaritakis