- Dittrichia viscosa
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Dittrichia viscosa 
Scientific classification Kingdom: Plantae Division: Magnoliophyta Class: Magnoliopsida Order: Asterales Family: Asteraceae Subfamily: Asteroideae Tribe: Inuleae Genus: Dittrichia Species: D. viscosa Binomial name Dittrichia viscosa (L.) W.Greuter
(Linnaeus, 1758)Synonyms - Inula viscosa (L.) Aiton
- Cupularia viscosa (L.) Gren. & Godr.
Dittrichia viscosa, also known as False Yellowhead, Sticky Fleabane, Woody Fleabane and Yellow Fleabane, is a flowering plant in the daisy family.
This perennial plant is common throughout the Mediterranean Basin. Originally it was found mainly in dry riverbeds and abandoned fields up to a height of 1.500 m. Nowadays it is quite common in roadsides and ruderal habitats, even in urban areas. It is considered an invasive species in the United States.[1] The False Yellowhead is a tough plant, very resistant to adverse conditions and degraded environments. It is important as food for the caterpillars of certain butterflies and moths, like Ioana iolas.[2]
Despite the fresh-looking green color of its leaves and its attractive inflorescence[3], this plant is sticky and has a certain smell that most people find unpleasant. It contains an essential oil[4] and has been used in traditional medicine since ancient times, especially in the Levant, as an astringent[5].
It is an important plant in Catalan tradition, often mentioned in adages and proverbs. One adage says that: "els raïms són madurs quan floreixen les olivardes.", the grapes are ripe when the Yellow Fleabane blooms.
Contents
Gallery
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Dittrichia viscosa habitus
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Seed heads
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Dittrichia viscosa. Flowers
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Leaves
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Utetheisa pulchella on Dittrichia viscosa
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Ruderal community of Dittrichia viscosa growing on the railway-side gravel next to Petah Tikva-Sgula railway station, Israel.
See also
- Seny
References
External links
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