Elephantopus scaber L., Sp. Pl.: 814. 1753.

Bunwong, Sukhonthip, Chantaranothai, Pranom & Keeley, Sterling C., 2014, Revisions and key to the Vernonieae (Compositae) of Thailand, PhytoKeys 37, pp. 25-101 : 68

Elephantopus scaber L., Sp. Pl.: 814. 1753.

Type.

Indiis, Ana-schovadi in Rheede, Hort. Malab. 10: 13, t.7. 1690. (Lectotype designated by Jeffrey in Jarvis & al. (ed.), Regnum Veg. 127: 44. 1993. Figs 8B-C .

Description.

Perennial herbs. Stems lacking except for the flowering scape, erect, terete, inconspicuously ribbed, sericeous. Leaves in basal rosette at base, obovate or obovate-lanceolate, margin crenate or serrate, apex obtuse or acute, base attenuate, subcoriaceous. Capitulescences terminal, scapose. Foliose bracts 3, deltoid. Capitula tubular. Involucres green or with purple apex. Phyllaries 8, in 2 series, decussate, margin entire or piliferous. Florets 4; corollas salverform, white or purple, zygomorphic. Anthers ca. 2 mm long, apical appendage acute, base acute or rounded. Styles purple. Achenes clavate, 2-3 mm long, pubescent with dense twin hairs, lacking glands. Pappus of 5 bristles with dilated bases in one series, persistent.

Two varieties are recognized in Thailand.

Key to the varieties

1	Leaves and inflorescences densely pilose-tomentose	var. penicillatus
-	Leaves and inflorescences sparsely pilose	var. scaber

Figures

Figure 8. Morphology of Vernonieae in Thailand 4. A Elephantopus mollis B-C Elephantopus scaber D Elephantopus scaber var. penicillatus E-F Pseudelephantopus spicatus.