Erechtites Raf.

1 species naturalized Aust.; Qld, NSW

*Erechtites valerianifolia (Wolf) DC.

Erect annual up to 2 m high, usually glabrous. Lower leaves petiolate, lanceolate or ovate-lanceolate, entire serrate or irregularly dentate; upper leaves pinnately lobed or pinnatisect, up to 14 cm long; the petiole sometimes narrowly winged. Inflorescences terminal or axillary, ± corymbose. Heads sessile or on stalks up to 1 cm long. Involucre tubular, c. 1 cm long and 3 mm diam.; bracts 12–14, in 1 row, with some short basal bracts. Marginal and disc florets all bisexual. Cypselas 2.5–3.5 mm long, ribbed. Pappus of fine hairs, mauve or reddish, 7–8 mm long. Widespread. Weed in open forests, margins of RF and roadsides. Introd. from S. America. Fl. summer