Phil Bendle Collection:Erechtites valerianifolia (Brazilian Fireweed)

Kingdom: Plantae
(unranked): Angiosperms
(unranked): Eudicots
(unranked): Asterids
Order: Asterales
Family: Asteraceae
Tribe: Senecioneae
Genus: Erechtites
Species: E. valerianifolia
Binomial name: Erechtites valerianifolia
Synonyms: Senecio valerianaefolia, Senecio valerianaefolius, Senecio valerianifolius, Crassocephalum valerianifolium
Common name: Brazilian Fireweed, tropical burnweed

Erechtites valerianifolia is an aggressive, strong smelling, erect, an annual weed that grows up to 1 m tall. It is native to Mexico, Central America, South America and the West Indies. It is now naturalized in New Zealand where it is common from Northland, Auckland, Coromandel and the Bay of Plenty. It can be found growing in the margins of forests, in scrubland and waste places. 

The plant's leaves have long petioles with narrow wings along the sides, bearing oblong or elliptical blades with many pinnate lobes. They are >25 cm long and > 15 cm wide.
Flowering occurs during January–December. One plant can produce many yellow or purple, flower heads, each with both disc florets and ray florets

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Thanks to Wikipedia for text and information: https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/3.0/

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