Erechtites hieracifolia (L.) Rafin ex DC., Prodr. 6: 294. 1838. Senecio hieracifolius L. Sp. Pl. 866. 1753.

Herbs, erect; stems ribbed, thinly hairy or glabrescent. Leaves oblong-lanceolate to lanceolate, acute to subacute, 3 - 25 x 0.5 - 7 cm, sessile; lower leaves serrate; upper cauline leaves pinnately lobed, coarsely dentate; lobes triangular, acute, hairy. Capitula heterogamous, disciform, cylindrical, in terminal corymb, 12 - 15 x 8 - 12 mm in diam., bracteolate; bracteoles linear, scabrid; peduncle up to 5.5 cm long, pubescent. Involucre green, 10 - 12 mm long; bracts greenish brown, linear, 10 - 12 x 1.2 mm, acute. Marginal florets yellow, filiform, ca 8 mm long. Disc florets 9 - 10 mm long. Achenes brown, cylindrical, ca 2.5 mm long, appressed hairy between the ribs. Pappus entirely white, 8 - 12 mm long.

Fl. & Fr. Jan. - Feb.

Distrib. India: Madhya Pradesh and Andhra Pradesh.

Notes. A native of Tropical America and Indonesia, the species has naturalised in agricultural fields and Tea, Coffee, Cinchona and Rubber plantations.