Volume 13 > Part 2 > Year 2016 > Page 376 > Compositae (Asteraceae) > Pluchea

3. Pluchea polygonata (DC.) Gagnep.wfo-0000092780

Fl. Indo-Chine 3: 524, fig. 53. 1924; H.Koyama, Acta Phytotax. Geobot. 35: 129. 1984.— Inula polygonata DC., Prodr. 5: 465. 1836; Kerr, Fl. Siam. 2(3): 271. 1936. Plate XXIX: 3–4.

Accepted Name : This is currently accepted.

Description : Perennial herb, 0.6–1 m tall; stems erect, from woody rhizomes, winged throughout, upper part densely white woolly. Leaves narrowly elliptic or oblanceolate, 8–15 by 1.5–4.5 cm, apex acute, base narrowed, clasping stem, margins minutely dentate, upper surfaces green, subglabrous, lower surfaces densely arachnoid. Inflorescences racemose; peduncles 0.3–2.5 cm long. Capitula ca 15 mm diam. at flowering; involucres campanulate, ca 7 by 8 mm; phyllaries 3- or 4-seriate, outer lanceolate, abaxial surfaces densely hairy, apex obtuse, innermost linear, abaxial surfaces hairy, apex stiff, sharp, long point, lilac; receptacle flattened, naked. Marginal florets many per capitulum; corollas filiform, 4–4.3 mm long. Disc florets ca 46 per capitulum, male; corollas lilac, tubular, ca 5 mm long, apex 5-lobed, lobes papillose, style not branched. Achenes cylindrical, ca 2 mm long, densely setuliferous; pappus of capillary bristles, ca 4 mm long, whitish tawny.

Thailand : NORTHERN: Mae Hong Son (Pang Mapha, Pai), Chiang Mai (Doi Suthep, Doi Inthanon, Mae Pau, Mae Klang Falls, Ban Yang, Doi Chiang Dao, Ban Mae Chia, Ban Mae Kon, Ping Khong, Bo Luang, Doi Saket, Mae Sanam), Lamphun (Li), Tak (Raheng); NORTH-EASTERN: Loei (Dan Sai), Sakon Nakhon, Mukdahan (Khamcha-e); EASTERN: Chaiyaphum (Nam Phrom, Thung Kamang); SOUTH-WESTERN: Uthaithani (Khao Nang Ram Research Station).

Distribution : Myanmar (type), Indochina.

Ecology : Grassy slopes in open dipterocarp forests, mixed deciduous forests, and open pine forests, 250–1,600 m alt. Flowering: November–February.

Vernacular : Sap raeng khao (สาบแร้งขาว)(Central, Nakhon Ratchasima); nat (หนาด)(Central, Chanthaburi, Chaiyaphum).