Ageratum houstonianum
Template:Short description Template:Speciesbox
Ageratum houstonianum, commonly known as flossflower, bluemink, goatweed, blueweed, pussy foot or Mexican paintbrush, is a cool-season annual plant[1][2] often grown as bedding in gardens.[3]
Description
This herbaceous annual or dwarf shrub grows to Template:Cvt high, with ovate to triangular leaves Template:Cvt long, and blue flowerheads (sometimes white, pink, or purple). The flower heads are borne in dense corymbs. The ray flowers are threadlike and fluff-haired, leading to the common name. The narrow lanceolate bracts are pointed, denticulate only at the top and glandular hairy. The flowering period is from May to November in the northern hemisphere.[4] The plant attracts butterflies.[5]
Range
The plant is native to Central America in Guatemala and Belize, and adjacent parts of Mexico, but has become an invasive weed in other areas. It was also naturalized in large parts of the tropics and in the southern United States. Its habitat is pastures, moist forest clearings and bushes up to altitudes of Script error: No such module "convert"..
Today, it is widely used as an ornamental plant for summer borders and balcony boxes, high varieties also as cut flowers. The species is cultivated once a year, having numerous varieties whose crowns may be dark blue, purple, pink and white. Preferring cool soils and exposure in full sun, high varieties reach stature heights up to Script error: No such module "convert"..[6][7]
Chemistry
Ageratum has evolved a unique method of protecting itself from insects: it produces a methoprene-like compound which interferes with the normal function of the corpus allatum, the organ responsible for secreting juvenile hormone during insect growth and development. This chemical triggers the next molting cycle to prematurely develop adult structures, and can render most insects sterile if ingested in large enough quantities. [8]
Toxicity
Ageratum houstonianum is toxic to grazing animals, causing liver lesions.[9][10] It contains pyrrolizidine alkaloids.[11]
Weed risk
Ageratum houstonianum is prone to becoming a rampant environmental weed when grown outside of its natural range. It has become an invasive weed in the United States, Australia, Europe, Africa, China, Japan, New Zealand, and the Philippines.[12]
Varieties
- Ageratum houstonianum var. angustatum B.L. Rob.[13]
- Ageratum houstonianum f. isochroum
- Ageratum houstonianum f. luteum
- Ageratum houstonianum var. muticescens
- Ageratum houstonianum f. niveum
- Ageratum houstonianum f. normale
- Ageratum houstonianum var. typicum
- Ageratum houstonianum f. versicolor
The cultivars 'Blue Danube'[14] and 'Blue Horizon'[15] have gained the Royal Horticultural Society's Award of Garden Merit.[16]
References
<templatestyles src="Reflist/styles.css" />
- ↑ Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
- ↑ Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
- ↑ Eckehart J. Jäger, Friedrich Ebel, Peter Hanelt, Gerd K. Müller (ed.): Rothmaler - excursion flora of Germany. Volume 5: Herbaceous ornamental and useful plants . Spektrum Akademischer Verlag, Berlin Heidelberg 2008, Template:ISBN , p. 553 .
- ↑ New South Wales Flora Online, Ageratum houstonianum
- ↑ Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
- ↑ Template:EFloras
- ↑ Species profile
- ↑ Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
- ↑ Acamovic, T., Stewart, C.S., Pennycott, T.W.,"Poisonous Plants and Related Toxins", 2004
- ↑ Noa, M., Sanchez, L.M., Durand, R., "Ageratum houstonianum toxicosis in Zebu cattle", Veterinary and human toxicology, 2004, vol.46, no4, pp.193-195.
- ↑ Wiedenfeld H, Andrade-Cetto A., "Pyrrolizidine alkaloids from Ageratum houstonianum Mill.", Phytochemistry, 2001 Aug, pp1269-71 [1]
- ↑ Global Compendium of Weeds, Ageratum houstonianum (Asteraceae)
- ↑ JSTOR Plant Science
- ↑ Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
- ↑ Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
- ↑ Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
Script error: No such module "Check for unknown parameters".
External links
- Template:Sister-inline
- Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".