Galinsoga quadriradiata

Galinsoga quadriradiata is a species of flowering plant in the family Asteraceae which is known by several common names, including shaggy soldier,[2][3] Peruvian daisy, hairy galinsoga. Its native home is apparently central Mexico, although it has become naturalized in many other places (North and South America, Europe, Japan, Philippines, the northern India, Nepal, etc.).[4][5]

Galinsoga quadriradiata
Scientific classification Edit this classification
Kingdom: Plantae
Clade: Tracheophytes
Clade: Angiosperms
Clade: Eudicots
Clade: Asterids
Order: Asterales
Family: Asteraceae
Genus: Galinsoga
Species:
G. quadriradiata
Binomial name
Galinsoga quadriradiata
Ruiz & Pav., 1798
Synonyms[1]
Synonymy
  • Adventina ciliata Raf.
  • Ageratum perplexans M.F.Johnson
  • Baziasa urticifolia (Kunth) Steud.
  • Galinsoga aristulata E.P.Bicknell
  • Galinsoga bicolorata H.St.John & D.White
  • Galinsoga brachystephana Regel
  • Galinsoga brachystephana Otto ex Heer & Regel
  • Galinsoga caracasana (DC.) Sch.Bip.
  • Galinsoga ciliata (Raf.) S.F.Blake
  • Galinsoga eligulata Cuatrec.
  • Galinsoga hispida Benth.
  • Galinsoga humboldtii Hieron.
  • Galinsoga plikeri Giacom.
  • Galinsoga urticifolia (Kunth) Benth.
  • Jaegeria urticaefolia (Kunth) Spreng.
  • Jaegeria urticifolia (Kunth) Spreng.
  • Sabazia urticifolia (Kunth) DC.
  • Stemmatella urticifolia (Kunth) O.Hoffm. ex Hieron.
  • Vargasia caracasana DC.
  • Wiborgia brachystephana Heynh.
  • Wilborgia urticifolia Kunth

Description

Galinsoga quadriradiata is an annual herb which varies in appearance. The main stem reaches anywhere from 10 to 60 centimeters (4-24 inches) in height and may branch or not. The petioled leaves are ovate and serrated are opposite branching, and covered coarse, hispid[6] hairs. The roots form a fibrous root system.[7]

The small flower heads are up to a centimeter wide (0.4 inches) but typically 2-3mm in diameter and have rounded center filled with many disc florets usually in a shade of bright yellow. There are typically five white ray florets widely spaced around the center, each an oval shape typically with three crenate teeth at the tip. Both the disk and ray florets are fertile[7] producing an achene with a large pappus.[4][8][5]

Galinsoga quadriradiata and its cousin Galinsoga parviflora are both edible and can be used as a pot herb or in salads, although outside of their native range they have not been widely adopted as a culinary item other than in China. G. parviflora is preferred as a salad green due to its non-hairy leaves. Care must be taken to not confuse them with the distantly related, and visually similar, Tridax procumbens.

Macro photograph of Galinsoga quadriradiata flower showing ray and disk florets.

References
  1. The Plant List, Galinsoga quadriradiata Ruiz & Pav.
  2. USDA, NRCS (n.d.). "Galinsoga quadriradiata". The PLANTS Database (plants.usda.gov). Greensboro, North Carolina: National Plant Data Team. Retrieved 19 January 2016.
  3. BSBI List 2007 (xls). Botanical Society of Britain and Ireland. Archived from the original (xls) on 2015-06-26. Retrieved 2014-10-17.
  4. Flora of North America, Galinsoga quadriradiata Ruiz & Pavón, 1798.
  5. Canne-Hilliker, Judith Marie. 1977. Rhodora 79(819): 353-364 in English, line drawing on page 354, around the world distribution map on page 359
  6. Rhoads, Block (5 September 2007). The Plants of Pennsylvania (2 ed.). ISBN 978-0-8122-4003-0.
  7. "Peruvian daisy". Illinois Wild Flowers. Retrieved 8 November 2015.
  8. Flora of China, Galinsoga quadriradiata Ruiz & Pavon, 1798. 粗毛牛膝菊 cu mao niu xi ju
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