Gynura aurantiaca

(Blume) de Candolle

in A. P. de Candolle and A. L. P. P. de Candolle, Prodr. 6: 300. 1838.

Common names: Velvet plant
IntroducedIllustrated
Basionym: Cacalia aurantiaca Blume Bijdr. Fl. Ned. Ind., 908. 1826
Treatment appears in FNA Volume 20. Treatment on page 610.

Stems somewhat lax or clambering, branching, fleshy, conspicuously fuzzy-hairy (± velutinous to villous, crosswalls of hairs purplish). Leaves: petioles 0–3+ cm; blades 4–10(–15) × 2–5(–8) cm, margins raggedly toothed, faces ± velutinous to villous, hairs purplish. Heads 1–5. Calyculi: bractlets 3–6+ mm. Phyllaries 10–12+ mm, tips greenish or minutely darkened. Disc corollas yellow or orange to brick-red (drying purplish), 8–12+ mm; style-branch appendages orange, 1–2 mm. Cypselae glabrous; pappi 10–12 mm. 2n = 20.


Phenology: Flowering spring–winter.
Habitat: Shaded, damp sites
Elevation: 0–50 m

Distribution

V20-1368-distribution-map.gif

Introduced; Fla., se Asia, also introduced e Africa (including Madagascar) and Australia.

Discussion

Gynura aurantiaca is a tender pot-plant that is sometimes grown outdoors. It is marginally established in the flora, persisting as an escape from cultivation in southern Florida. It may be encountered elsewhere along the Gulf Coast. The orange, filiform appendages of the style branches are distinctive; the flowers are reported to be unpleasantly scented.

Selected References

None.

Lower Taxa

None.
... more about "Gynura aurantiaca"
Theodore M. Barkley† +
(Blume) de Candolle +
Cacalia aurantiaca +
Velvet plant +
Fla. +, se Asia +  and also introduced e Africa (including Madagascar) and Australia. +
0–50 m +
Shaded, damp sites +
Flowering spring–winter. +
in A. P. de Candolle and A. L. P. P. de Candolle, Prodr. +
Introduced +  and Illustrated +
Compositae +
Gynura aurantiaca +
species +