Elephantopus carolinianus
(Carolina Elephant’s-foot)
Elephantopus carolinianus, La Nana Trail, Nacogdoches, Nacogdoches Co. 4003
Elephantopus carolinianus, La Nana Trail, Nacogdoches, Nacogdoches Co. 3995
Elephantopus carolinianus, La Nana Trail, Nacogdoches, Nacogdoches Co. 4000
Elephantopus carolinianus, La Nana Trail, Nacogdoches, Nacogdoches Co. 4005
| Scientific Name | Elephantopus carolinianus | USDA PLANTS Symbol | ELCA3 |
| Common Name | Carolina Elephant's-foot, Leafy Elephant's-foot | ITIS Taxonomic Serial No. | 37297 |
| Family | Asteraceae (Sunflower) | SEINet Reference |
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| Description | Habitat: Usually sandy soils in damp to wet areas in pine and mixed forests and along streambanks, roadsides, and in pastures. Plant: Leafy perennial with erect or ascending stems, 1 or occasionally 2 to several, usually branched above; 12 to 40 inches tall. Leaves: Alternate with blades that are ovate to lanceolate or broadly elliptic, 0.8 to 6 inches long and 1.2 to 3.6 inches wide, gradually smaller upward; sessile, and margins are dentate to crenate; surfaces sparsely hairy; basal leaves often absent at flowering. Inflorescence: Single or small, tight clusters of 4 or 5 light purple to white flowers, each cluster about 1-inch wide or less; flowers have only disk florets, irregularly and deeply 5-lobed that are about 0.3-inch long; clusters are supported by 1 to 3 leaf-like, heart-shaped bracts equaling or exceeding the clusters in length; involucres are cylinder-shaped, 0.3 to to 0.4 inch long; with 4 pairs of straw-colored to green phyllaries with green, pointed tips. Bloom Period: September to November. References: "Manual of the Vascular Plants of Texas" by Correll and Johnston, SEINet "Wildflowers of Texas" by Michael Eason, Kansas Wildflowers and Grasses and Wikipedia. |
BONAP Distribution Map Map Color Key |
Texas Status: Native |
Banner photo of Castilleja indivisa and Lupinus ssp. taken along FM 1323 north of Johnson City, Blanco County
© Tom Lebsack 2024