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Ageratum houstonianum Mill.
| Family Name: | Asteraceae (Compositae) |
| Common Name: | Floss Flower, Mexican Paintbrush, 熊耳草 |
Name
Classifications and Characteristics
| Plant Division | Angiosperms (Flowering Seed Plants) (Dicotyledon) |
|---|---|
| Plant Growth Form | Herbaceous Plant |
| Maximum Height | 0.3 m to 0.7 m |
| Maximum Plant Spread / Crown Width | 0.3 m |
Description and Ethnobotany
| Growth Form | Annual or biennial herb up to 0.7 m tall with erect habit. |
|---|---|
| Foliage | Ovate to triangular-ovate leaves are softly hairy on both sides (2-6 cm wide, 1.5-3.5 cm wide). Leaf margin is lined with rounded or pointed teeth. Each leaf has 3 prominent longitudinal veins, sometimes having 2 additional ones that are less distinct. |
| Stems | The stem is covered in white, soft matted hairs (tomentose) or woolly hairs (lanate). |
| Flowers | Compound, pom-pom like flowers may be blue, purple, pink or white. |
| Fruit | Dry, indehiscent fruit is black, 1-seeded and 5- angled (1.5-1.7 mm long). |
| Cultivation | Plant in fertile soil with good drainage. Prevent the leaves from becoming wet to avoid attack by powdery mildew. This species is usually resistant to pests and diseases, but sometimes attacked by aphids and whiteflies. |
| Ethnobotanical Uses | Medicinal: In Ecuador, the plant is used to treat throat pain or inflammation in folk medicine. |
Landscaping Features
| Landscape Uses | Flowerbed / Border, Container Planting |
|---|---|
| Thematic Landscaping | Butterfly Garden |
Plant Care and Propagation
| Light Preference | Full Sun, Semi-Shade |
|---|---|
| Water Preference | Moderate Water |
| Rootzone Tolerance | Moist Soils, Well-Drained Soils |
Foliar
| Mature Foliage Colour(s) | Green |
|---|---|
| Mature Foliage Texture(s) | Velvety / Furry / Tomentose |
| Foliar Type | Simple / Unifoliate |
| Foliar Shape(s) | Non-Palm Foliage (Ovate) |
| Foliar Venation | Pinnate / Net |
| Foliar Margin | Serrate / Toothed, Crenate |
| Foliar Apex - Tip | Acute, Rounded |
| Foliar Base | Truncate / Square, Cordate |
Floral (Angiosperm)
| Flower Colour(s) | Blue, Pink, Purple, White |
|---|---|
| Flower Grouping | Cluster / Inflorescence |
| Flower Location | Terminal |
| Individual Flower Shape | Tubular |
| Inflorescence Type | Compound Head / Capitulum |
Fruit, Seed and Spore
| Mature Fruit Colour(s) | Black |
|---|---|
| Fruit Classification | Simple Fruit |
| Fruit Type | Indehiscent Dry Fruit , Achene |
| Seed Quantity Per Fruit | Few (1-5) |
Image Repository
Others
| Master ID | 30843 |
|---|---|
| Species ID | 5213 |
| Flora Disclaimer | The information in this website has been compiled from reliable sources, such as reference works on medicinal plants. It is not a substitute for medical advice or treatment and NParks does not purport to provide any medical advice. Readers should always consult his/her physician before using or consuming a plant for medicinal purposes. |
