Bradburia pilosa (Nutt.) Semple

Soft Bradburia Bush

Herb

Annual

Vascular

Soft Bradburia Bush is an introduced annual in the Sunflower family (Asteraceae). It is native to the western coastal plain province, southwestern central lowlands province, and lower elevations of the Ozark Plateau. In Alabama in can be found in the southern half of the state. Soft Bradburia Bush grows on roadsides, along railroads, in pastures, and around fields. It is an annual with a tap root. The stems are 2-4 feet in height, erect, branched towards the top, green in color, and pubescent. Leaves are alternate, oblanceolate to elliptic in outline, pubescent, with slightly toothed or entire margins. Flowers are produced in heads. The heads are produced singly. The peduncles of the heads are pubescent and sometimes stipitate glandular. Each head has phyllaries in 3-4 unequal series, 11-24 yellow ray flowers, and 25-60 yellow disc flowers. The fruit is an achene with tan pappus composed of barbellate bristles. Soft Bradburia Bush is similar in appearance to species of Golden Aster (Chrysopsis) and Camphorweed (Heterotheca), and has been placed in both of those genera at one time (Chrysopsis pilosa Nuttall; Heterotheca pilosa (Nuttall) Shinners. It differs by being an annual with head produced singly.--A. Diamond

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