Click on any image to open the slideshow
Praxelis clematidea
Praxelis
Not native to Florida
Invasive exotics that have increased in abundance or frequency but have not yet altered Florida plant communities to the extent shown by Category I species.
Planting this species should be avoided and removal of existing plants may be desirable.
This native of South America is now found in much of the central Florida peninsula except for the east coast counties.
This herbaceous plant is typically 40-50cm (16-20 in.) tall but can be twice as high. It has small lavender to bluish flowers lacking rays and having 35 to 40 tubular disk florets in a distinctive cone-shaped receptacle 6-8mm (~1/4 in.) long and 3-4mm (~1/8 in.) wide. The stem and the leaves are hairy. Leaves are opposite, usually ovate and having 5 to 8 large teeth on each side. The tiny seeds are black and have a pappus of barbed bristles that aid in distribution. The plant has an odor of cat urine when the leaves are crushed.
Similar looking species include: siamweed (Chromolaena odorata), pink throughwort (Fleischmannia incarnata), tropical whiteweed (Ageratum conyzoides), bluemink (Ageratum houstonianum), Cape Sable whiteweed (Ageratum littorale) and blue mistflower (Conoclinium coelestinum).
Praxelis clematidea is a member of the Asteraceae - Aster family.
Atlas of Florida Vascular Plants (Institute for Systemic Botany) profile for this species
USDA Plant Profile for this species
Date record last modified: May 19, 2021
