Blumea axillaris (Lam.) DC. APNI* Synonyms: Blumea mollis (D.Don) Merr. APNI*
Description: Annual herb, 0.3–1 m high, strongly aromatic and somewhat viscid; stems erect, simple or branched from the base, glandular-hairy.
Leaves ovate-oblong, 1–9.5 cm long, 0.6–5 cm wide, sharply toothed, densely silky hairy on both surfaces, upper leaves smaller, acute to apiculate, base acute, sessile, lower leaves rounded or obtuse, base tapering, petiolate.
Panicles dense, spike-like with smaller panicles on axillary branches; flower heads hemispherical to campanulate, 3–4 mm diam.; peduncles silky; involucral bracts 2–3-seriate, linear, acute to acuminate, purplish tinged, densely hairy, the outer shorter. Florets purple or pink.
Achene body oblong, 1 mm long, sparsely to densely hairy; pappus white, 2–4 mm long.
Flowering: Flowers and fruits year around.
Distribution and occurrence: Widespread in the Old World tropics. In Australia it occurs from the west coast of the Kimberley WA, to Cape York, Qld, and extending just into NSW on the north coast. Grows along roadsides, in pasture, woodland, gardens and wasteland; north from Dalmorton in NSW. Often occurs in dense colonies.
NSW subdivisions: NC
Other Australian states: Qld W.A. N.T.
Text by M. F. Porteners: updated L. Murray 2018
Taxon concept: Flora of NSW 3 (1992); Flora of Australia 37:377
APNI* Provides a link to the Australian Plant Name Index (hosted by the Australian National Botanic Gardens) for comprehensive bibliographic data
***The AVH map option provides a detailed interactive Australia wide distribution map drawn from collections held by all major Australian herbaria participating in the Australian Virtual Herbarium project.
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