Roundleaf thoroughwort facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Roundleaf thoroughwort |
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| Conservation status | |
| Scientific classification | |
| Genus: |
Eupatorium
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| Species: |
rotundifolium
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| Synonyms | |
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Synonymy
Critonia elliptica Raf. ex DC.
Eupatorium marrubium Walter Eupatorium obovatum Raf. Eupatorium ovatum J.Bigelow Eupatorium rotundifolium Fernald 1943 not L. 1753 Eupatorium teucrifolium Willd. Eupatorium verbenaefolium Michaux Eupatorium verbenifolium Reichard Uncasia pubescens (Mühlenb. ex Willd.) Greene Uncasia rotundifolia (L.) Greene Uncasia scabrida (Elliott) Greene Uncasia verbenaefolia (Michaux) Greene Uncasia verbenifolia (Michaux) Greene Eupatorium pubescens Muhl. ex Willd., syn of var. ovatum Eupatorium scabridum Elliott, syn of var. scabridum |
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Eupatorium rotundifolium, commonly called roundleaf thoroughwort, is a North American species of plant in sunflower family. It native to the eastern and central United States, in all the coastal states from Maine to Texas, and inland as far as Missouri and the Ohio Valley. It is found in low, moist habitats such as wet savannas and bogs.
Description
The stems up to 100 cm (40 inches) tall and are produced from short rhizomes. The inflorescences are composed of a large number of small white flower heads, each with 5 disc florets but no ray florets. Plants can be highly variable due to hybridization.
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Detail of stem and leaves. (Photo by Robert H. Mohlenbrock)
Taxonomy
Three varieties of Eupatorium rotundifolium are recognized. They are:
- Eupatorium rotundifolium var. ovatum (Bigelow) Torr.
- Eupatorium rotundifolium var. rotundifolium
- Eupatorium rotundifolium var. scabridum (Elliott) A.Gray
The plants known as Eupatorium rotundifolium var. saundersii have often been treated as a variety of E. rotundifolium. They can be distinguished based on morphology, and molecular evidence also suggests that these plants may be different enough from E. rotundifolium to recognize them as a species, Eupatorium pilosum.
Hybridization
As is common in Eupatorium, E. rotundifolium can form hybrids with other species in the genus. In particular, Eupatorium godfreyanum is a hybrid of E. rotundifolium and Eupatorium sessilifolium.
Chemical constituents
Eupatorium rotundifolium contains sesquiterpene lactones of the guaianolide type including euparotin acetate and eupachlorin acetate, both of which inhibit tumor growth in vitro when isolated from the plant.
See also
In Spanish: Eupatorium rotundifolium para niños
