Parthenium

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Parthenium
Starr 050423-6650 Parthenium hysterophorus.jpg
Parthenium hysterophorus
Scientific classification OOjs UI icon edit-ltr.svg
Kingdom: Plantae
Clade: Tracheophytes
Clade: Angiosperms
Clade: Eudicots
Clade: Asterids
Order: Asterales
Family: Asteraceae
Subfamily: Asteroideae
Tribe: Heliantheae
Subtribe: Ambrosiinae
Genus: Parthenium
L.
Type species
Parthenium hysterophorus [1] [2]
L.
Synonyms [3]
  • ArgyrochaetaCav.
  • BolophytaNutt.
  • EchetrosisPhil.
  • HysterophorusVaill.
  • PartheniastrumFabr.
  • Villanova Ortega

Parthenium is a genus of North American annuals, biennials, perennials, subshrubs, and shrubs in the tribe Heliantheae within the family Asteraceae and subfamily Asteroideae. [4] [2] [3] [5]

Contents

The name Parthenium is an evolution of the Ancient Greek name παρθένιον (parthenion), which referred to Tanacetum parthenium . [6] [7] [8] The name is possibly derived from the Greek word παρθένος (parthenos) which means "virgin". [5]

Members of the genus are commonly known as feverfew. [9] Notable species include guayule ( P. argentatum ) which has been used as a rubber substitute, especially during the Second World War; [10] and also P. hysterophorus , a serious invasive species in the Old World. [11]

Species

These include: [3]

Importance

In North America, the Jicarilla Apache people used Parthenium incanum for medicine (Opler 1946: 8). The sap of guayule ( P. argentatum ) is a source of natural rubber. [12] Parthenium hysterophorus is a common invasive species in India, Australia, and parts of Africa. Its pollen can cause allergies and the sap is toxic.

Parthenium hysterophorus in Achanakmar Tiger Reserve Parthenium infestation in Achanakmar Wildlife Sanctuary.JPG
Parthenium hysterophorus in Achanakmar Tiger Reserve

References

  1. lectotype designated by N.L. Britton & A. Brown, Ill. fl. n. U.S., ed. 2. 3: 464 (1913)
  2. 1 2 "Parthenium". Tropicos . Missouri Botanical Garden.
  3. 1 2 3 Flann, C (ed) 2009+ Global Compositae Checklist Archived 2014-12-27 at archive.today
  4. Linnaeus, Carl von. 1753. Species Plantarum 2: 988 in Latin
  5. 1 2 Strother, John L. "Parthenium". In Flora of North America Editorial Committee (ed.). Flora of North America North of Mexico (FNA). New York and Oxford: Oxford University Press. Retrieved 2011-08-09 via eFloras.org, Missouri Botanical Garden, St. Louis, MO & Harvard University Herbaria, Cambridge, MA.
  6. Liddell, Henry George; Scott, Robert (1940). "παρθένιον". A Greek-English Lexicon. Clarendon Press. Archived from the original on 2019-07-03 via the Perseus Project.
  7. Dioscorides, Pedanius (2000). Materia Medica. Johannesburg, South Africa: Ibidis Press. p. 556.
  8. Dioscorides, Pedanius (1829). Sprengel, Curtius (ed.). De Materia Medica. Leipzig. p. 484.
  9. "Parthenium". Integrated Taxonomic Information System . Retrieved 2011-08-09.
  10. Ray, D.T. 1993. Guayule: A source of natural rubber. p. 338-343. In: J. Janick and J.E. Simon (eds.), New crops. Wiley, New York.
  11. "Parthenium hysterophorus (herb)". Global Invasive Species Database. Invasive Species Specialist Group. 2010-10-04. Archived from the original on 2016-03-04. Retrieved 2011-08-09.
  12. Ray, Dennis T. (1993). J. Janick; J.E. Simon (eds.). "Guayule: A source of natural rubber". New Crops. New York: Wiley: 338–343.

Further information