Wedelia trilobata
(L.) A.S. Hitchc. in Rep. Missouri Bot. Gard. 4: 99. 1898.
Shivarajan & Pradeep in Ind. J. For. 11: 161-162. 1988. Silphium trilobatum L., Syst.
ed. 10: 1232. 1759.
Herbs, perennial, prostrate, diffuse, rooting at nodes; stems glabrous or pubescent
(near nodal region). Leaves elliptic-obovate, usually with 3 angular lobes with toothed
margins, acute at apex, basally cuneate, 3 - 10 x 3 - 7 cm, glabrous to sparingly pubescent;
petiole short, up to 5 Mm. Heads radiate, solitary on ebracteate peduncles, 2 - 2.5 cm
across; peduncles strigose, 4 - 15 cm long. Involucre green; bracts lanceolate, 1 - 1.5 cm
long, ciliate inner narrower. Ray florets 5 - 8; corolla bright yellow, 1.5 - 2.0 x 0.5 - 0.7 cm,
3 - 4 denticulate; tube short. Ovary trigonous; stigma bilobed. Pappus connate into a
spathiform, fimbriate cup at the apex, devoid of awns. Disc florets many; corolla yellow;
tube 5 - 8 mm long, 5 lobed; lobes deltoid, densely pubescent within. Anthers black,
syngenecious. Style branches flattened and marginally pubescent. Achenes blackish,
warty, 4 - 6 mm long, crowned by the persistent pappus cup.
Fl. & Fr. June - Sept.
Distrib. India: Kerala.
Thailand, native of Tropical America.
Fl. & Fr. June - Sept.
Distrib. India: Kerala.
Thailand, native of Tropical America.