Iva microcephala Nutt.

Small Head Marsh Elder

Herb

Annual

Vascular

Small Head Marsh Elder is a native herbaceous annual in the Sunflower family (Asteraceae). It is native to the southern third of Alabama. Small Head Marsh Elder occurs around depressions ponds, in sandhills, in sandy pine plantations, and on disturbed roadsides. It is an annual with a tap root. Stems are erect, 1-4 feet in height, branched above the middle, and green or brown in color. Leaves are alternate, sessile or with very short petioles, linear to filiform in outline, entire, pubescent, and gland dotted. Flowers are produced in heads. The heads are arranged in spiciform arrays. Each head has a short peduncle and a green hemispheric involucre. Heads have 3-3 pistillate flowers or 3-5 staminate flowers. The heads have only disc flowers. The fruit is an achene. Small Head Marsh Elder is listed as an S1 species in Alabama (typically 5 or fewer occurrences, very few remaining individuals, or some factor of its biology making it especially vulnerable in the state), and globally as a G5 species (demonstrably secure globally, though it may be quite rare in parts of its range, especially at the periphery).—A. Diamond

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Native FACW (NWPL) S1 (State Rank) G5 (Global Rank)

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