Ageratina riparia

"Mistflower" redirects here. For other uses, see Mistflower (disambiguation).

Ageratina riparia
Scientific classification
Kingdom:	Plantae
(unranked):	Angiosperms
(unranked):	Eudicots
(unranked):	Asterids
Order:	Asterales
Family:	Asteraceae
Genus:	Ageratina
Species:	A. riparia
Binomial name
Ageratina riparia (Regel) R.M.King & H.Rob.
Synonyms
Eupatorium riparium Regel[1]

Ageratina riparia, commonly known as Mistflower or Creeping Croftonweed, is a species of flowering plant in the aster family, Asteraceae, that is native to Mexico, Cuba and Jamaica.^[1]

Description

Mistflower is a low growing, sprawling perennial herb that grows up to 40x60 cm high. Its stems produce roots at joints that touch the ground. The serrated leaves on average reach 7.5 cm long and 2.5 cm wide and taper at each end. The flowers are white with dense heads at the ends of the branches. Mistflower buds from July until August, with full flowering occurring from August through October. Seeds are black, slender, angular, 2 mm long, with fine white hairs at the tip. They are dispersed by wind and flowing water. Mistflower is maybe poisonous for mammals to eat.

Invasiveness

Mistflower has been introduced to southern Africa, tropical Asia, Australia, New Zealand, the Canary Islands, Madagascar, Mascarenes, Hawaii, and Peru. It is considered an invasive species, choking out native plants in the cloud forests of Sri Lanka, and in pastures and bushlands of other places where it has been introduced with often disastrous effects. It has been reported to have caused lung lesions in horses and to have caused the death of many animals due to habitat loss.

Uses

Mistflower can be harvested to use as a tanning agent. It is commonly used as an ornamental plant.

Control

Mistflower can be controlled with glyphosate 360 at the rate of 0.5 L/100 L or metsulfuron methyl at the rate of 5 g/100 L.

References

1. ^ ^{a b} "Ageratina riparia (Regel) R. M. King & H. Rob.". Germplasm Resources Information Network. 1997-05-22. http://www.ars-grin.gov/cgi-bin/npgs/html/taxon.pl?317712. Retrieved 2010-06-04. 

• Mistflower, The State of Queensland
• PIER