Elephantopus

Elephantopus is a genus of perennial plants in the daisy family (Asteraceae).[3][4][5]

Elephantopus
Elephantopus scaber in India
Scientific classification Edit this classification
Kingdom:Plantae
Clade:Tracheophytes
Clade:Angiosperms
Clade:Eudicots
Clade:Asterids
Order:Asterales
Family:Asteraceae
Subfamily:Cichorioideae
Tribe:Vernonieae
Genus:Elephantopus
L.
Type species
Elephantopus scaber
Synonyms[2]
  • Elephantosis Less.
  • Anaschovadi Adans.
  • Elephantopsis (Sch.Bip.) C.F.Baker
  • Chaetospira S.F.Blake

The genus is widespread over much of Africa, southern Asia, Australia, and the Americas.[2] Several species are native to the southeastern United States,[6][7] and at least one is native to India and the Himalayas.[8][9][10]

Uses

Elephantopus scaber is a traditional medicine[11] and other species, including E. mollis[12] and E. carolinianus,[13] have also been investigated for medicinal properties. Elephantopus scaber contains elephantopin which is a germacranolide sesquiterpene lactone containing two lactone rings and an epoxide functional group.[14]

Species

Accepted species[2]

References

Elephantopus tomentosus in the United States

Media related to Elephantopus at Wikimedia Commons