Eclipta prostrata (L.) L. =Eclipta alba Asteraceae (Sunflower Family) Native, Worldwide False Daisy

                                         August Photo

Plant Characteristics:  Low annual herb, with leafy procumbent or ascending stems, 1-10 dm. long; lvs. opposite, lanceolate, 2-10 cm. long, sessile, +/- short-strigose; heads radiate but inconspicuous, fls. white, on peduncles from the upper axils, rays equaling disk; invol. hemispheric, 2-seriate, the outer phyllaries somewhat longer and broader than the inner; receptacle flat, with bristlelike bracts; aks. short, thick, 3, or 4 angled, becoming corky-rugose on the angles, hairy on summit; pappus an obscure crown or none.

Habitat:  Shores and wet banks, Freshwater Marsh; scattered localities, U.S.  Below 300 m.  All months.

Name:  Greek, ekleipo, to be deficient because of lack of pappus.  (Munz, Flora So. Calif. 156).  Latin, albus, white.  (Jaeger 12).

General:  Uncommon in the study area, found in only one place, and this in Santa Ana Heights where a new subdivision drains its streets into the Upper Bay.  The freshwater from the drains allowed a new habitat of freshwater plants to grow.  Ultimately this area will be overgrown with willow and mule fat but for the first year (1987-88) it had Cyperus, Eclipta, Typha and a few other plants.  (my comments).        Munz, Flora So Calif. says the plant is adventive of Europe; (Robbins et al. 460). says it is from tropical America; (Mason 807). says it occurs in N. and S. America and has been introduced into Nebraska and eastern states including Mass., and (Abrams Vol. IV 128), says it is widely distributed in warmer parts of the world.        A weed in all continents.  Source of dark dye, medicine against roundworm parasites.  (Hickman, Ed. 248).     A small genus of riparian herbs, chiefly tropical.  (Munz, Flora So. Calif. 157).

Text Ref:  Hickman, Ed. 248; Mason 807; Munz, Flora So. Calif. 157; Roberts 10.

Photo Ref:  July-Aug 87 # 12,13; Aug-Sept 87 # 16.

Identity: by R. De Ruff, confirmed by F. Roberts.

Computer Ref:  Plant Data 317.

Have plant specimen.

Last edit 10/13/02.

                                       September Photo