Texas
Wildbuds

Iva annua

(Annual Marsh Elder)

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Iva annua, Pineywoods Boardwalk Trail, Lake Livingston State Park, Polk Co. 4131

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Iva annua, Pineywoods Boardwalk Trail, Lake Livingston State Park, Polk Co. 4132

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Iva annua, Pineywoods Boardwalk Trail, Lake Livingston State Park, Polk Co. 4123

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Iva annua, Pineywoods Boardwalk Trail, Lake Livingston State Park, Polk Co. 4121

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Iva annua, George Bush Park, Houston, Harris Co. 6630

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Iva annua, George Bush Park, Houston, Harris Co. 6615

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Iva annua, George Bush Park, Houston, Harris Co. 6652

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Iva annua, Pineywoods Boardwalk Trail, Lake Livingston State Park, Polk Co. 4148

Scientific Name Iva annua USDA PLANTS Symbol IVAN2
Common Name Annual Marsh Elder, Sumpweed ITIS Taxonomic Serial No. 36031
Family Asteraceae (Sunflower) SEINet
Reference
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Description Habitat: Moist or well drained, sandy, loamy, clay, limestone, or gravelly soils; in wooded areas.
Plant: Rough, erect annual 20 to 48 inches tall (or taller), usually with several branches; sparsely to moderately hairy.
Leaves: Opposite or a few near the top alternate; blades lanceolate to broadly ovate, 3/4 to 6 inches long, tapering to a pointed tip; margins are entire or toothed and hairy, the surfaces nearly smooth to having a few short hairs.
Inflorescence: Spikelike racemes at the branch tips with many small, nodding flower heads that are initially green, becoming red or brown; most heads (9 to 17) are staminate (male) with 3 to 5 pistillate (female) heads above and below; each staminate head subtended with a green, linear pale (like a bract, also called "chaff"); each head is on a short peduncle and with a cup-shaped involucre.
Bloom Period: September to November.
References: Illinois Plants, Missouri Plants and "Manual of the Vascular Plants of Texas" by Correll and Johnston.
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