Common/Local Name(s): Siam weed, bitter bush, or triffid weed.
Family: Asteraceae
Botanical Description: Chromolaena odorata typically grows as a shrubby herb that can reach up to 2-3 meters in height. It has a tendency to form dense thickets.
The stems are erect, branching, and covered with fine hairs. They are soft and can root at the nodes when in contact with the ground.
The leaves of Chromolaena odorata are ovate to triangular, about 4-10 cm long, with serrated edges. They are arranged oppositely on the stem and are covered with fine hairs.
The leaves release a distinct odor when crushed, which is where the "odorata" part of its name comes from.
The plant produces small, fluffy, white to pale pink flowers arranged in clusters at the ends of branches. Each flower is tubular and about 1-1.5 cm in diameter.
Chromolaena odorata generally flowers during the wet season, but in some tropical areas where conditions are ideal, it may flower year-round.
The fruit is a small achene with pappus that allows for wind dispersal.
Seed Dispersal: Seeds are primarily dispersed by wind, which contributes to its rapid spread and invasive nature.
Flowering/Fruiting: Flowers from August to November.
Plant Uses: Medicinal Uses, Veterinary Uses and Ecological Uses.
Origin: Introduced
Locality: University of Port Harcourt Botanical Garden.