Crassocephalum crepidioides plant1 (13347513044)

Description:

Description: Introduced, warm-season, annual, erect,sparsely hairy herb, mostly 50–100 cm tall. Leaves are elliptic to ovate in outline; lowest leaves are lyrate-pinnatifid and up to 20 cm long; bases often have a pair of stipule-like lobes and the margins are coarsely toothed; upper leaves are smaller, not lobed or with a lobe each side towards base; petioles are up to 4 cm long. Heads are in cymes, few to many, nodding at first, later erect and about 4 mm wide. Bracts are 2-seriate and dark tipped. Florets are tubular and reddish. Flowering is in summer. A widespread weed of disturbed habitats, cultivation and wasteland. Prefers moist habitats. Seeds have a pappus of hairs that aid its spread by wind. A minor weed that gets outcompeted by pastures and crops Leaves have been used as a salad vegetable for a long time and carroty or nutty flavour. Minimising disturbance and maintaining high groundcover will minimise its abundance. Spray or physically remove prior to seed set. Date: 23 March 2014, 18:36. Source: Crassocephalum crepidioides plant1. Author: Harry Rose from South West Rocks, Australia.