stinknet – Oncosiphon piluliferum
2 People Contributing
26 Observation(s)
2 place(s)
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ORIGIN: South Africa
GROWTH TRAITS: Herbaceous annual typically growing 1-2 ft tall (15-60 cm) from a taproot. Stems are multi-branched, have longitudinal grooves, and are often covered in very fine hair. Leaves are alternate, covered in small hairs, and finely divided (appearing somewhat fern-like). Leaves are up to 2 in. long (5 cm), becoming progressively smaller and less divided up the stem. Flower heads appear singly at branch tips in spring. Flower heads are up to 0.5 in. in diameter (1¼ cm) and resemble round, yellow globes. Each is comprised of numerous tiny, tubular, yellow florets. Achenes are up to 0.08 in. long (2 mm) with a short crown of white pappus scales. All parts of the plant have a very pungent and usually disagreeable odor.
REPRODUCTION: By seed. Seed viability is unknown.
HABITAT: Capitalizes on disturbance; frequently found in urban waste places, crops, pastures, coastal scrub, and along roadsides.
LOOK-ALIKES: Oncosiphon piluliferum’s inflorescences lack petal-like florets and consist of numerous tiny, tubular florets. This helps differentiate it from all unrelated look-alikes. Within the family, many other native and exotic species have similar flower heads, including the weedy pineappleweed (Matricaria discoidea), which very closely resembles globe chamomile. Pineappleweed is typically lower growing (3-12” or 7-30 cm), its flower heads are more cone-shaped, and both the leaves and flower heads give off a distinctive pineapple odor when crushed.
CITATIONS:
Winston, R.L., Andreas, J.E., Milan, J., DesCamp, W., Randell, C.B., and M. Schwarzlander. 2014. New Invaders of the Southwest. United States Department of Agriculture, Forest Health Technology Enterprise Team. FHTET-2014-12. Retrieved from https://bugwoodcloud.org/resource/files/14767.pdf
GROWTH TRAITS: Herbaceous annual typically growing 1-2 ft tall (15-60 cm) from a taproot. Stems are multi-branched, have longitudinal grooves, and are often covered in very fine hair. Leaves are alternate, covered in small hairs, and finely divided (appearing somewhat fern-like). Leaves are up to 2 in. long (5 cm), becoming progressively smaller and less divided up the stem. Flower heads appear singly at branch tips in spring. Flower heads are up to 0.5 in. in diameter (1¼ cm) and resemble round, yellow globes. Each is comprised of numerous tiny, tubular, yellow florets. Achenes are up to 0.08 in. long (2 mm) with a short crown of white pappus scales. All parts of the plant have a very pungent and usually disagreeable odor.
REPRODUCTION: By seed. Seed viability is unknown.
HABITAT: Capitalizes on disturbance; frequently found in urban waste places, crops, pastures, coastal scrub, and along roadsides.
LOOK-ALIKES: Oncosiphon piluliferum’s inflorescences lack petal-like florets and consist of numerous tiny, tubular florets. This helps differentiate it from all unrelated look-alikes. Within the family, many other native and exotic species have similar flower heads, including the weedy pineappleweed (Matricaria discoidea), which very closely resembles globe chamomile. Pineappleweed is typically lower growing (3-12” or 7-30 cm), its flower heads are more cone-shaped, and both the leaves and flower heads give off a distinctive pineapple odor when crushed.
CITATIONS:
Winston, R.L., Andreas, J.E., Milan, J., DesCamp, W., Randell, C.B., and M. Schwarzlander. 2014. New Invaders of the Southwest. United States Department of Agriculture, Forest Health Technology Enterprise Team. FHTET-2014-12. Retrieved from https://bugwoodcloud.org/resource/files/14767.pdf