Vernonia galamensis facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Vernonia galamensis
Scientific classification
Genus:	Vernonia
Species:	galamensis

Vernonia galamensis is a special plant from the sunflower family. It's mostly known for its seeds, which are used to make a type of oil. This plant is often called ironweed.

What is Vernonia Galamensis?

Vernonia galamensis is the main source of something called vernonia oil. This oil is super rich in a useful fatty acid called vernolic acid. Vernolic acid is a special kind of fatty acid called an epoxy fatty acid.

This oil is used to make many things. For example, it helps create plastics and rubbery coatings. It's also used in products that help things dry faster. Scientists are looking at using vernonia oil instead of other materials in paints and PVC plastic. This could help reduce smog pollution in our air.

Where Does Vernonia Galamensis Grow?

There are over 1,000 different types of plants in the Vernonia group. V. galamensis originally comes from East Africa. People grow it there to get its useful oil.

This plant doesn't grow well everywhere. It produces fewer seeds if it's grown far from the equator (the middle of the Earth). This means it might not be worth growing in other places. However, scientists are studying how to make new types of this plant that can grow better.

Vernonia galamensis needs loose, airy soil to grow well. It also needs long periods of dry weather.

Vernonia in Ethiopia

This plant is grown in many parts of Ethiopia. It's especially common around the city of Harar. On average, one hectare (about 2.5 acres) of land can produce 2 to 2.5 tons of seeds.

Plants from Ethiopia are known to have a lot of oil. They can have up to 41.9% oil. Up to 80% of this oil can be vernolic acid. This special oil is used in paints and coatings. It's also used to make many other chemicals for industries.

How Does Vernonia Galamensis Look?

Vernonia galamensis is an annual plant, which means it lives for one year. It looks a bit like a daisy. But its appearance can change a lot from one plant to another.

It grows blue or purple flowers. These flowers have long petals around the outside. The center of the flower is made of shorter petals called florets. The center is full of seeds. Some of these seeds have a fuzzy tuft of hair called a pappus.

The plant's size can vary a lot depending on where it grows. It might be short and bushy, or it could grow very tall. Some plants have just a few stems, each with one flower. Others have many stems with bunches of flowers.

Vernonia in the Wild

When not grown by people, Vernonia galamensis can be found growing wild. It often grows as a weed in areas that have been disturbed. This includes places like fields or grazing lands.

Many insects like to eat this plant. Some types of moths from the genus Indent are even called vernonia worms. This is because they love to eat Vernonia plants.

Types of Vernonia Galamensis

There are several different types, or subspecies, of Vernonia galamensis:

• Vernonia galamensis galamensis
• Vernonia galamensis nairobensis
• Vernonia galamensis lushotoensis
• Vernonia galamensis mutomoensis
• Vernonia galamensis afromontana
• Vernonia galamensis gibbosa