Pluchea foetida (Linnaeus) A.P. de Candolle var. foetida . Common name: Stinking Fleabane. Phenology: Late Jul-Oct. Habitat: Seasonally wet areas, ditches, various other freshwater wetlands. Distribution: S. NJ south to s. FL, west to e. TX and se. OK; West Indies (Hispaniola).
Origin/Endemic status: Native
Synonymy ⓘ: = K1, K4, Va; < Pluchea foetida (L.) DC. – Ar, C, F, Fl7, FNA19, G, GW2, K3, NcTx, RAB, SE1, Tat, Tx, WH3, Arriagada (1998), Nesom (1989a), Nesom (2004a); > Pluchea foetida (L.) DC. – S; > Pluchea tenuifolia Small – S
Links to other floras: < Pluchea foetida - FNA19
Wetland Indicator Status:
- Atlantic and Gulf Coastal Plain: OBL (taxonomic split from wetland indicator species)
- Eastern Mountains and Piedmont: OBL (name change)
- Great Plains: FACW (taxonomic split from wetland indicator species)
Heliophily ⓘ: 8
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Horticultural Information
Intro: Erect annual/perennial of seasonally wet areas, coastal swamps, beaver ponds, ditches and other freshwater wetlands.
Stems: Stems unbranched, purplish, hairy and gland-dotted, giving off unpleasant odor when bruised/crushed.
Leaves: Leaves alternate, sessile with clasping bases, oval or oblong to lance-shaped, blunt-tipped, to 4 1/2 in. long, thick, finely toothed, hairy and gland-dotted, giving off unpleasant odor when bruised/crushed.
Inforescence:
Flowers: Compound flowers (heads) in dense clusters at end of and upper axillary branches; heads about 1/4 in. tall and 1/3 in. wide, consisting of many tiny, creamy white, tubular disk florets (no ray florets) closely surrounded by several series of hairy, pinkish, gland-dotted, pointy bracts.
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Height: 1-3 ft.
plant sale text:
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description: Erect annual/perennial of seasonally wet areas, coastal swamps, beaver ponds, ditches and other freshwater wetlands.
stems: Stems unbranched, purplish, hairy and gland-dotted, giving off unpleasant odor when bruised/crushed.
leaves: Leaves alternate, sessile with clasping bases, oval or oblong to lance-shaped, blunt-tipped, to 4 1/2 in. long, thick, finely toothed, hairy and gland-dotted, giving off unpleasant odor when bruised/crushed.
inflorescence:
flowers: Compound flowers (heads) in dense clusters at end of and upper axillary branches; heads about 1/4 in. tall and 1/3 in. wide, consisting of many tiny, creamy white, tubular disk florets (no ray florets) closely surrounded by several series of hairy, pinkish, gland-dotted, pointy bracts.
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