- Eupatorium riparium
Taxobox
name = Mistflower
regnum =Plant ae
familia =Asteraceae
tribus =Eupatorieae
genus = "Eupatorium "
species = "E. Riparium"
binomial = "Eupatorium Riparium"
binomial_authority = "R. M. King & H. Rob"
synonyms ="Ageratina riparia"The Mistflower ("Eupatorium riparium") is an invasive species of weed native to South America, the lower regions of Mexico, Cuba and Jamaica.
Description
A low growing, sprawling perennial herb, the Mistflower, often called the "Creeping Croftonweed" is an invasive species of weed that grows up to 40x60cm high. The mistflower stem produce roots at joints that touch the ground. The leaves on average reach 7.5 cm long and 2.5 cm wide, is toothed along the edges, and taper at each end. The flowers are white with dense heads at the ends of the branches. The Mistflower's seeds are black, slender, angular, 2 mm long, with fine white hairs at the tip. The mistflower is poisonous for mammals to eat.
Naturalism
Native to
Central America andSouth America , CentralMexico ,Cuba , andJamaica . It has been introduced to s.Africa , tropicalAsia ,Australia ,New Zealand ,Canary Islands ,Madagascar ,Mascarenes ,Hawaii , &Peru .preading
The Mistflower buds from July until August, full flowering occurs in August through October. The seeds it produces are carried by the wind and flowing water.
Uses
Can be harvested to use as a tanning agent. The Mistflower is commonly used as an ornamental plant.
Ecological Impact
The Mistflower chokes 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.
ources
http://www.dpi.qld.gov.au/cps/rde/xchg/dpi/hs.xsl/4790_7321_ENA_Print.htmhttp://www.hear.org/pier/species/ageratina_riparia.htmhttp://www.ars-grin.gov/cgi-bin/npgs/html/taxon.pl?317712
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