Laphangium luteoalbum (L.) Tzvelev

Jersey Cudweed

Herb

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Vascular

Jersey Cudweed is an introduced herbaceous annual in the Sunflower family (Asteraceae). It is native to Eurasia, but has been naturalized on every continent except Antarctica. In Alabama in has been found in the southern third of the state. Jersey Cudweed occurs on roadsides, along railroad tracks, and in other disturbed sunny sites. It is an annual with a tap root. Stems are erect, branched from the base, and white tometose. The leaves are alternate, sessile, obovate to spatulate or oblong in outline, and entire. The leaves have slightly clasping decurrent bases. Both surfaces of the leaves are gray tomentose. Flowers are produced in heads. The heads are arranged in terminal corymbs or panicles. The heads are campanulate with yellowish gray phyllaries. Each head contains 130-170 disc flowers and no ray flowers. Most of the disc flowers are pistillate but each head contains 5-10 bisexual flowers. The bisexual flowers have red-tipped corollas. The fruit is a pubescent achene with a crown of easily detached pappus.—A. Diamond

The first of account of this species in Alabama was established by Howard Horne in 2015. He discovered a population in Mobile County and made specimens for distribution.

Not Native

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