Berlandiera pumila (Michx.) Nutt.

Eastern Greeneyes; Soft Greeneyes

Herb

Perennial

Vascular

Soft Greeneyes is a native herbaceous perennial in the Sunflower family (Asteraceae). It is native to the southern ¼ of Alabama. Soft Greeneyes occurs in Longleaf pine woodlands, in scrub oak woods, on roadsides, along woodland borders, and in disturbed, sandy areas. It is a perennial from a woody taproot. The stems are 2-3 feet in height and usually branched. The stems are reddish-green in color and pubescent. Leaves are basal and cauline. The basal leaves may not be present at flowering. Stem leaves are alternate, petiolate, oblong to ovate in outline, with crenate margins. The leaves are grayish velvety pubescent. Flowers are produced in heads. The heads are in panicles or corymbs. Each head has 2-3 series of rounded phyllaries. There are 8 fertile yellow ray flowers per head and 20-100 functionally staminate reddish disc flowers. The heads smell like chocolate, especially early in the morning. The seed is a flattened obovate achene. Soft Greeneyes is sometimes available from native plant nurseries. It prefers a well-draining sandy soil in full sun.--A. Diamond

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Native

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