Scientific name: Galinsoga parviflora Cav.

Common name: Potato weed, yellow weed, galinsoga

Family: Asteraceae

Origin:

Native of South America.

Habit:

Annual herb with ascending habit, ie. branches grow outwards from the centre of the plant and then upwards. Plants are usually around 50 cm tall.

Habitat:

Widespread and common weed of tended and disturbed areas. Grows in damp soil.

General description:

Stems and leaves

Stems are thin and branching densely covered with yellowish hairs. Leaves are opposite with petioles (leaf stalks) up to 1.5 cm long. The ovate leaf blades taper to a point at the tip, with a broad wedged base, 2.5-6 × 1.5-4 cm. Margins can be variously toothed or more or less entire without teeth or lobes.

Flowers and fruit

Flower-heads are small daisies on stalks up to 8 cm long. Usually there are five white petals (rays) surrounding a yellow central disc. Flowers spring to summer. Seeds are of two types either compressed and 2.25 mm long (formed by ray florets) or angled and 1.75 mm long (formed by disc florets) at the end of the seed is a ring of several hairy scales about as long as the seed.

Distinguishing characteristics:

Herb to 50 cm with branching slender hairy stems and tiny daisy flowers with five white ‘petals’.

Noxious status:

Not noxious.

Sources:

Kleinschmidt, H.E., Holland, A. and Simpson, P. (1996). Suburban Weeds. 3rd Edition. Department of Primary Industries, Brisbane.

Parsons, W.T. and Cuthbertson, E.G. (1992). Noxious Weeds of Australia. Inkata Press, Melbourne.

Stanley, T.E. and Ross, E.M. (1983-1989). Flora of South-eastern Queensland. Volume 2. Department of Primary Industries, Brisbane.

Auld, B.A. and Medd, R.W. (1996). Weeds: an illustrated botanical guide to weeds of Australia. Inkata Press, Sydney.