Swaziland's Alien Plants Database

Galinsoga parviflora Cav.

ASTERACEAE

galinsoga, smallflower galinsoga, potato weed, gallant soldier, yellow weed, smallflowered quickweed, galinsoga weed, chickweed, potato weed, kew weed

Unknown, Minor problem species

Origin: Mexico and South America

Growth Form: Herb

Plant Description: Annual slender herb up to 0.5 m high. Galinsoga is an annual herb up to 2 m tall. The glabrous to pubescent stems are erect and often branched. The ovate to ovate-lanceolate leaves are opposite with short petioles. The leaf blades are sparsely hairy with three prominent nerves, shallowly toothed margins and wedge-shaped bases. The inflorescence is a small head composed of ray and disk flowers. The ray flowers are white usually five in number and lack a pappus. The disk flowers are yellow with a pappus of conspicuously fimbriate scales. The fruit is a four-angled achene flattened parallel to the involucral bracts.

Key Features:

Control:

Comments: Growth characteristics: Galinsoga is a prolific seed producer. It is primarily a weed during the early growing season thriving under moist conditions. It is found in crop fields and waste places, Problems: Galinsoga can readily germinate and make rapid growth early in the growing season allowing it to compete with crop plants. Because it grows best under moist conditions it can become a serious problem under irrigation or in areas that receive year-round rainfall.

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