Asteraceae

Elephantopus mollis

Common Names: Tobacco weed

Plant Form: Erect herb. Size: Up to 1 m tall. Stem: Branched in upper half. Leaves: Clustered at base of plant, fewer alternate on stems. Undivided, up to 25 x 10 cm, with notched or toothed edges, sparsely hairy; with glands especially on veins. Flowers: Green to browning compound flowerheads up to 2 cm across with few white to pinkish flowers open at a time. Fruit and Seeds: 3 mm long, with five parachuting hairs 4 mm long that are wider at the base. Habitat: Pastures, disturbed sites, waste areas. Distinguishing Features: Smaller flowers and fewer leaves than Elephant’s Foot (Elephantopus scaber). Impacts: Invades pastures. Stem hairs may be irritating to skin.

Almost a flat weed

Flowers inside a triangular shelter (ajcaguiar)

Flower close-up (donmarsille)

Seed heads (chenyao2)