Gnaphalium purpureum L.

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Photo: Bart Wursten
Nhascuvo Ranger Camp, Gorongosa National Park

Photo: Bart Wursten
Camp ground, Chitengo Camp, Gorongosa National Park.

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Synonyms:	Gamochaeta pensylvanica (Willd.) Cabrera Gamochaeta purpurea (L.) Cabrera Gnaphalium pensylvanicum Willd.
Common names:	American cudweed (English)
Frequency:	Frequent
Status:	Introduced
Description:	Probably annual or biennial, white woolly herb with erect stem up to 40 cm tall. Leaves spathulate-obovate, up to 8 × 2 cm, decreasing in size towards the stem apex; margin entire or subentire. Inflorescence in a terminal spike with leaf-like bracts. Involucral bracts c. 3-seriate, lanceolate-oblong, c. 3 mm long. Florets small, numerous, brownish.
Notes:
Derivation of specific name:	purpureum: purple
Habitat:	In gardens and damp disturbed places.
Altitude range:
Flowering time:
Worldwide distribution:	A native of the warmer parts of North America down to Argentina, it is now a widespread weed throughout the tropics,
Mozambique distribution:	Z,MS,GI,M
Growth form(s):
Endemic status:
Red data list status:
Insects associated with this species:
Spot characters:	Display spot characters for this species
Content last updated:	Wednesday 21 July 2021
Literature:	Chapano, C. & Mamuto, M. (2003). Plants of the Chimanimani District National Herbarium and Botanic Garden, Zimbabwe Page 27. As Gamochaeta pennsylvatica Da Silva, M.C., Izidine, S. & Amude, A.B. (2004). A preliminary checklist of the vascular plants of Mozambique. Southern African Botanical Diversity Network Report No. 30 Sabonet, Pretoria Page 146. As Gamochaeta pennsylvanica Mapaura, A. & Timberlake, J. (eds) (2004). A checklist of Zimbabwean vascular plants Southern African Botanical Diversity Network Report No. 33 Sabonet, Pretoria and Harare Page 25. Phiri, P.S.M. (2005). A Checklist of Zambian Vascular Plants Southern African Botanical Diversity Network Report No. 32 Page 30. As Gamochaeta purpurea Wild, H. (1980). The Compositae of the Flora Zambesiaca area, 12. Inuleae (continued). Kirkia 12(1) Page 73. As Gnaphalium pennsylvanicum Wursten, B., Timberlake, J. & Darbyshire, I. (2017). The Chimanimani Mountains: an updated checklist. Kirkia 19(1) Page 89.

Other sources of information about Gnaphalium purpureum:

Our websites:

Flora of Botswana: Gnaphalium purpureum
Flora of Malawi: Gnaphalium purpureum
Flora of Zambia: Gnaphalium purpureum
Flora of Zimbabwe: Gnaphalium purpureum

External websites:

African Plants: A Photo Guide (Senckenberg): Gnaphalium purpureum
African Plant Database: Gnaphalium purpureum
BHL (Biodiversity Heritage Library): Gnaphalium purpureum
EOL (Encyclopedia of Life): Gnaphalium purpureum
GBIF (Global Biodiversity Information Facility): Gnaphalium purpureum
Google: Web - Images - Scholar
iNaturalist: Gnaphalium purpureum
IPNI (International Plant Names Index): Gnaphalium purpureum
JSTOR Plant Science: Gnaphalium purpureum
Mansfeld World Database of Agricultural and Horticultural Crops: Gnaphalium purpureum
Plants of the World Online: Gnaphalium purpureum
Tropicos: Gnaphalium purpureum
Wikipedia: Gnaphalium purpureum