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Nugent, Louis R

Parthenium incanum

Parthenium incanum Kunth

Mariola

Asteraceae (Aster Family)

Synonym(s):

USDA Symbol: PAIN2

USDA Native Status: L48 (N)

The deciduous shrub, mariola, is intricately branched from the base and reaches a height of 1-3 ft. Its branches and lobed leaves are cottony pubescent, lending and overall grayish-white appearance. Flat-topped flower heads, made up of many small, white flowers, terminate the main branches.

From the Image Gallery

21 photo(s) available in the Image Gallery

Plant Characteristics

Duration: Perennial
Habit: Shrub
Leaf Retention: Deciduous
Size Notes: Up to about 3 feet tall.
Fruit: Fruit is a cypsela (pl. cypselae). Though technically incorrect, the fruit is often referred to as an achene.

Bloom Information

Bloom Color: White
Bloom Time: May , Jun , Jul , Aug , Sep , Oct , Nov
Bloom Notes: Flowers resemble small cauliflowers.

Distribution

USA: AZ , NM , NV , TX , UT
Native Distribution: AZ & s.w. UT, to Trans-Pecos deserts & Edwards Plateau, s. to n. Mex.
Native Habitat: Desert grasslands; dry, gravelly slopes & plains

Growing Conditions

Light Requirement: Sun
Soil Moisture: Dry
Soil Description: Dry, caliche soils.

From the National Organizations Directory

According to the species list provided by Affiliate Organizations, this plant is on display at the following locations:

Tohono Chul Park, Inc. - Tucson, AZ

Bibliography

Bibref 995 - Native Landscaping from El Paso to L.A. (2000) Wasowski, S. and A. Wasowski

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Web Reference

Webref 38 - Flora of North America (2019) Missouri Botanical Garden, St. Louis, MO & Harvard University Herbaria, Cambridge, MA.

Additional resources

USDA: Find Parthenium incanum in USDA Plants
FNA: Find Parthenium incanum in the Flora of North America (if available)
Google: Search Google for Parthenium incanum

Metadata

Record Modified: 2022-12-30
Research By: TWC Staff

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