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Emilia fosbergii Nicolson
Florida Tasselflower
Fosberg's Pualele
Not native to Florida
A frequent wildflower throughout most of the peninsula and scattered panhandle locations. Native to the Old World, it is now also found in Georgia, Louisiana, Texas, California, Puerto Rico and Hawaii.
The distinctive red flowers of Emilia fosbergii extend more than 2mm (~1/16 in.) from the urn-shaped involucre. The style arms are tapered. The lower leaves are mostly sessile with the middle leaves having petioles and the upper leaves clasping the stem.
The species is named for American 20th century botanist Francis Raymond Fosberg (1908-1993). Fosberg traveled extensively, his studies and collections including tropical and island habitats and was an early advocate of environmental conservation.
Pualele is apparently a Hawaiian word that is used to refer to this flower, sow thistle and dandelion.
Emilia fosbergii is a member of the Asteraceae - Aster family.
Other species of the Emilia genus in the Wild Florida Photo database:
Emilia sonchifolia - LILAC TASSELFLOWER
Atlas of Florida Vascular Plants (Institute for Systemic Botany) profile for this species
iNaturalist profile for this species
USDA Plant Profile for this species
Date record last modified: Mar 07, 2024
