Elephantopus
Elephantopus is a genus of perennial plants in the daisy family.
The genus is widespread over much of Africa, southern Asia, Australia, and the Americas. Several species are native to the southeastern United States, and at least one is native to India and the Himalayas.
Uses
Elephantopus scaber is a traditional medicine and other species, including E. mollis and E. carolinianus, have also been investigated for medicinal properties. Elephantopus scaber contains elephantopin which is a germacranolide sesquiterpene lactone containing two lactone rings and an epoxide functional group.
Etymology
The genus name Elephantopus comes from the Greek words "elephantos" and "pous". The term likely refers to the large basal leaves of some members of the genus.
Species
; Accepted speciesElephantopus angolensis O.Hoffm. - AngolaElephantopus arenarius Britton & P.Wilson ex Britton - Cuba Elephantopus arenosus Krasch. - BrazilElephantopus biflorus Sch.Bip. - BrazilElephantopus carolinianus Raeusch.- southeastern + south-central United States; Cuba, Puerto RicoElephantopus dilatatus Gleason - Costa Rica, PanamaElephantopus elatus Bertol. - southeastern United StatesElephantopus elongatus Gardner- BrazilElephantopus hirtiflorus DC. - Brazil, VenezuelaElephantopus mendoncae Philipson - AngolaElephantopus micropappus Less.- BrazilElephantopus mollis Kunth native to Latin America + West Indies; widely naturalized in tropics of Africa, Asia, Australia, various islandsElephantopus multisetus O.Hoffm. ex T.Durand & De Wild. - Angola, Zaire, TanzaniaElephantopus nudatus A.Gray - southeastern + south-central United States, east Texas to MarylandElephantopus nudicaulis Poir. - MexicoElephantopus palustris Gardner - Brazil, Bolivia, ParaguayElephantopus piauiensis R.Barros & Semir - BrazilElephantopus pratensis C.Wright - CubaElephantopus racemosus Gardner- BrazilElephantopus riparius Gardner- BrazilElephantopus scaber L.- China, India, southeast Asia, northern Australia; naturalized in Africa, Madagascar, Latin AmericaElephantopus senegalensis Oliv. & Hiern- tropical AfricaElephantopus tomentosus L. - southern United StatesElephantopus vernonioides S. Moore - AfricaElephantopus virgatus Desv. ex Ham. - Guyana Elephantopus welwitschii Hiern - Africa
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