Spreading Sneezeweed
Centipeda minima
Prostrate mat-forming soft aromatic herb, hairy stems are usually cottony. Tiny flowerheads up to 15 purplish-green flowers in a cluster. Fruit heads break up while still green. Tiny white flowers clustered at the base of the leaves
| Details | |
|---|---|
| Flora Type | Herbs |
| Distinctive Features | Plants strongly aromatic when crushed. |
| Biology | Annual. Grows in moist soils and areas subject to flooding. Often salty situations. |
| Native Status | Native |
| Flowering Time | Sep-Feb |
| Taxonomy | |
|---|---|
| Phylum | Tracheophyta (Vascular Plants) |
| Class | Magnoliopsida (Flowering Plants) |
| Order | Asterales |
| Family | Asteraceae |
| Genus | Centipeda |
| Species | minima |
The Aboriginal people in Tasmania used the leaves of Centipeda minima for treatment of colds. Researchers have shown that volatile oils from C. cunninghamii and C. minima contain novel compounds that possess anti-inflammatory and antioxidant properties.
| Interesting Facts | |
|---|---|
| Similar Species | C. elatinoides is very similar and was was previously included in C. minima and it may be more common. |
| Native Status | Native |