Parthenium
Display parents3
TaxonParthenium
AuthorityL.
Synonyms
  • Argyrochaeta Cav.
  • Bolophyta Nutt.
  • Echetrosis Phil.
  • Hysterophorus Vaill.
  • Partheniastrum Fabr.
  • Villanova Ortega
Type speciesParthenium hysterophorus[1][2]
Type species authorityL.

Parthenium is a genus of North American annuals, biennials, perennials, subshrubs, and shrubs in the tribe Heliantheae within the family Asteraceae and subfamily Asteroideae.[3][2][4][5]

The name Parthenium is an evolution of the Ancient Greek name παρθένιον (parthenion), which referred to Tanacetum parthenium.[6][7][8] The name is possibly derived from the Greek word παρθένος (parthenos) which means "virgin".[5]

Members of the genus are commonly known as feverfew.[9] Notable species include guayule (P. argentatum) which has been used as a rubber substitute, especially during the Second World War;[10] and also P. hysterophorus, a serious invasive species in the Old World.[11]

Species

These include:[4]

Importance

In North America, the Jicarilla Apache people used Parthenium incanum for medicine (Opler 1946: 8). The sap of guayule (P. argentatum) is a source of natural rubber.[12] Parthenium hysterophorus is a common invasive species in India, Australia, and parts of Africa. Its pollen can cause allergies and the sap is toxic.

References

  1. ^ lectotype designated by N.L. Britton & A. Brown, Ill. fl. n. U.S., ed. 2. 3: 464 (1913)
  2. ^
  3. ^ Linnaeus, Carl von. 1753. Species Plantarum 2: 988 in Latin
  4. ^ Flann, C (ed) 2009+ Global Compositae Checklist Archived 2014-12-27 at archive.today
  5. ^
  6. ^ Liddell, Henry George & Scott, Robert (1940). "παρθένιον". A Greek-English Lexicon. Clarendon Press. Archived 2019-07-03 at the Wayback Machine. – via the Perseus Project
  7. ^ Dioscorides, Pedanius (2000). Materia Medica. Johannesburg, South Africa: Ibidis Press. p. 556.
  8. ^ Dioscorides, Pedanius (1829). De Materia Medica. Sprengel, Curtius (ed.). Leipzig. p. 484.
  9. ^
  10. ^ Ray, D.T. 1993. Guayule: A source of natural rubber. p. 338-343. In: J. Janick and J.E. Simon (eds.), New crops. Wiley, New York.
  11. ^ "Parthenium hysterophorus (herb)". Global Invasive Species Database. Invasive Species Specialist Group. 2010-10-04. Archived from the original on 2016-03-04. Retrieved 2011-08-09.
  12. ^ Ray, Dennis T. (1993). "Guayule: A source of natural rubber". New Crops. J. Janick & J.E. Simon (eds.). New York: Wiley.
  • Everitt, J.H.; Lonard, R.L.; Little, C.R. (2007). Weeds in South Texas and Northern Mexico. Lubbock: Texas Tech University Press. ISBN 0-89672-614-2
  • Opler, Morris E. (1946). Childhood and youth in Jicarilla Apache society. Publications of the Frederick Webb Hodge Anniversary Fund (Vol. 5). Los Angeles: The Southwest Museum Administrator of the Fund.

Further information