Common Sneezeweed

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©Centipeda cunninghamii - Russel Best CC2.5

Centipeda cunninghamii

Small multi-stemmed aromatic herb to 20 cm tall. Stems rigid and hairless, though young growth may be woolly. Bright green narrow leaves to 30 mm long, with toothed edges. Flowerheads round, creamy-green, with no petals. Fruiting head yellowish-green, spherical and bumpy.

Details
Flora Type
Herbs
Distinctive Features

Stalkless creamy-green coloured globular flower heads.
Biology

Perennial. Grows in moist soils and areas subject to flooding.
Native Status
Native
Flowering Time

Nov-Mar
Taxonomy
Phylum
Tracheophyta (Vascular Plants)
Class
Magnoliopsida (Flowering Plants)
Order
Asterales
Family
Asteraceae
Genus
Centipeda
Species
cunninghamii

Source: Atlas of Living Australia

Used by Aboriginal people as a medicine to treat colds, infected eyes and chest complaints. Researchers have shown that volatile oils from C. cunninghamii and C. minima contain novel compounds that possess anti-inflammatory and antioxidant properties.

Interesting Facts
Native Status
Native