Dumb-nettle (Galinsoga parviflora, Icon. 3: 41)

Family: Asteraceae

Author: Cav.

Bibliography: Icon. 3: 41

Year: 1795

Status: accepted

Rank: species

Genus: Galinsoga

Vegetable: False

Observations: Mexico to Trop. America

Description

The plant Galinsoga parviflora, commonly known as Dumb-nettle, is a member of the Asteraceae family. This species was first documented by the esteemed botanist Cav. It is recognized for its distribution extending from Mexico through much of Tropical America, making it a widespread plant in these regions.

Galinsoga parviflora thrives in a variety of habitats and is often found in disturbed soils, such as those in gardens, farmland, and along roadsides. This adaptability to diverse environments has contributed to its pervasive presence in these areas.

The plant is an annual herb characterized by its small size and delicate structure. Typically, it features simple, ovate leaves that are arranged oppositely on its branched stems. The flowers of the Dumb-nettle are notable for their diminutive size, yet they produce an abundance of seeds that facilitate its prolific spread.

While commonly regarded as a weed due to its rapid and vigorous growth, Galinsoga parviflora also holds ecological significance. It provides nectar and pollen for a variety of insects, thus playing a role in the local food web and promoting biodiversity.

Though not as illustrious as other members of the Asteraceae family, the Dumb-nettle has garnered attention for its resilience and ability to colonize new areas swiftly. Its slight flowers, while unassuming, contribute to its charm and underscore the intricate beauty found within everyday plants.

Common Names

Nor: bakketimian, betonie, firtann
Dan: betonie, bredbladet timian, drue-kortlæbe, håret kortstråle, klase-kortlæbe
Ron: busuioc salbatic
Swe: druvgamander, humlesuga, lundgamander, stortimjan, gängel, tarhasaurikki
Eng: dumb-nettle, galinsoga-weed, gallant soldier, gallant-soldier, potato weed, potato-weed, small flowered galinsoga, small-flower galinsoga, yellow-weed
Ita: galinsoga comune
Heb: galinsoga kitnat-prahim
Fra: galinsoga à petites fleurs, galinsoga glabre
Nld: kaal knopkruid
Deu: kleinbluetiges franzosenkraut, kleinbluetiges knopfkraut, kleinblütiges franzosenkraut, kleinblütiges knopfkraut, zranzosenkraut
Fin: nurmiajuruoho, rohtopähkämö, tarhasaurikki
Lit: smulkiažiedė galinsoga
Kin: baonoka, barzazi, chimari, rumari
Por: botão-de-ouro, erva-da-moda, fazendeiro, picão-branco
Hun: kicsiny gombvirág
Run: kirandura, kurituka
Est: paljas võõrkakar
Nno: peruskjelfrø
Nob: peruskjellfrø
Ces: pěťour maloúborný
Lav: sīkziedu sīkgalvīte
Pol: żółtlica drobnokwiatowa
En: Dumb-nettle, Potato-weed, Small-flower galinsoga, Yellow-weed, Galinsoga-weed, Gallant-soldier, Gallant soldier, Chickweed, Kew weed, LITTLEFLOWER QUICKWEED, Gallantsoldier, Potato weed, Small flowered galinsoga, Small-flowered galinsoga, Galinsoga, Field scabious, Small-flowered quickweed, Joey Hooker, Smallflower Galinsoga, Quick Weed, Small-flower Quickweed, Smooth galinsoga
Af: Knopkruid
Am: የሸዋ ኣረም
Az: Xırdaçiçək qalinsoqa
Be: Галінзога дробнакветкавая
Bg: Дребноцветна перуанска лайкучка
Zh: 小米菊, 牛膝菊
Hr: Sitna konica
Cs: Pěťour malokvětý, Pěťour maloúborný
Da: Håret Kortstråle, Betonie, Bredbladet Timian, Drue-Kortlæbe, Klase-Kortlæbe
Nl: Kaal knopkruid
Et: Paljas võõrkakar
Fi: Tarhasaurikki, Nurmiajuruoho, Rohtopähkämö
Fr: Galinsoga à petites fleurs, Galinsoga glabre, Galinsoge à petites fleurs
De: Zranzosenkraut, Kleinblütiges Knopfkraut, Franzosenkraut, Kleinblütiges Franzosenkraut, Kleinbluetiges Franzosenkraut, Kleinbluetiges Knopfkraut
He: Galinsoga kitnat-prahim, גלינסוגה קטנת פרחי, גלינסוגה קטנת-פרחים
Hu: Kicsiny gombvirág
It: Galinsoga comune, Bambagia spatolata
Rw: Baonoka, Barzazi, Chimari, Rumari
Rn: Kirandura, Kurituka
La: Galinsoga
Lv: Sīkziedu sīkgalvīte
Lt: Smulkiažiedė galinsoga
No: Bakketimian, Betonie, Firtann
Nb: Peruskjellfrø
Nn: Peruskjelfrø
Pl: Żółtlica drobnokwiatowa
Pt: Fazendeiro, Picão-branco, Botão de ouro, Picão branco, Botão-de-ouro, Erva-da-moda
Pt-br: Fazendeiro, Picão-branco, Botão-de-ouro
Ro: Busuiocul dracului, Busuioc salbatic
Sr: Konica
Sk: Žltnica maloúborová
Es: Cundinamarca y Boyacá, Guascas, Pajarito, Sogamoso y oriente de Boyacá, Albahaca silvestre, Estrellita, Mercurial, Pacoyuyu fino, Saetilla, Soldado galante
Sv: Gängel, Druvgamander, Humlesuga, Lundgamander, Stortimjan, Tarhasaurikki, Kal gängel, Slätgängel
Zh-tw: 小米菊
Ta: மூக்குத்தி
Zh-hant: 牛膝菊
Uk: Tridax parviflora, Галінзога дрібноквіткова, Галінсога дрібноквіткова, Незбутниця
Cy: Galinsoga

Synonyms

• Galinsoga calva (Sch.Bip.)
• Vigolina armella (Steud.)
• Wiborgia acmelea (Roth)
• Adventina parviflora ((Cav.) Raf.)
• Vigolina acmella (Poir.)
• Baziasa microglossa (Steud.)
• Stemmatella sodiroi (Hieron.)
• Galinsoga parviflora f. parceglandulosa (Thell.)
• Galinsoga parviflora var. semicalva (A.Gray)
• Galinsoga parviflora f. subeglandulosa (Thell.)
• Galinsoga semicalva ((A.Gray) H.St.John & D.White)
• Galinsoga laciniata (Retz. ex Hoffm.)
• Galinsoga acmella (Steud.)
• Galinsoga parviflora var. adenophora (Thell.)
• Galinsoga semicalva var. percalva (S.F.Blake)
• Galinsoga quinqueradiata (Ruiz & Pav.)
• Sabazia microglossa var. puberula (DC.)
• Wiborgia parviflora ((Cav.) Kunth)
• Galinsoga hirsuta (Baker)
• Sabazia microglossa (DC.)

Distribution

• Argentina Northeast (native)
• Argentina Northwest (native)
• Argentina South (native)
• Bolivia (native)
• Brazil South (native)
• Brazil Southeast (native)
• Chile Central (native)
• Chile North (native)
• Chile South (native)
• Colombia (native)
• Costa Rica (native)
• Dominican Republic (native)
• Ecuador (native)
• El Salvador (native)
• Haiti (native)
• Jamaica (native)
• Juan Fernández Is. (native)
• Leeward Is. (native)
• Mexico Central (native)
• Mexico Gulf (native)
• Mexico Northeast (native)
• Mexico Northwest (native)
• Mexico Southeast (native)
• Mexico Southwest (native)
• New Mexico (native)
• Paraguay (native)
• Peru (native)
• Puerto Rico (native)
• Uruguay (native)
• Venezuela (native)
• Windward Is. (native)
• Albania (introduced)
• Altay (introduced)
• Amur (introduced)
• Angola (introduced)
• Arizona (introduced)
• Assam (introduced)
• Austria (introduced)
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• Tasmania (introduced)
• Texas (introduced)
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• Turkmenistan (introduced)
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• Vermont (introduced)
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• Zaïre (introduced)
• Zimbabwe (introduced)

Additional Images

Habit

Taken Aug 19, 2019 by Sabina Hartmann (cc-by-sa)

Taken Sep 11, 2022 by Fabrice Rubio (cc-by-sa)

Taken Dec 15, 2021 by Kai Best (cc-by-sa)

Taken Jul 24, 2022 by Veranoblanco (cc-by-sa)

Taken Oct 28, 2019 by Jean-Christophe Lombardo (cc-by-sa)

Flower

Taken Aug 19, 2019 by Sabina Hartmann (cc-by-sa)

Taken Oct 28, 2019 by Jean-Christophe Lombardo (cc-by-sa)

Taken Jul 25, 2018 by A J (cc-by-sa)

Taken Sep 3, 2021 by Manū (cc-by-sa)

Taken Nov 15, 2019 by Pedro Araujo (cc-by-sa)

Leaf

Taken Sep 4, 2019 by Lennart Wessel (cc-by-sa)

Taken Oct 10, 2021 by Wald Fee (cc-by-sa)

Taken Aug 10, 2022 by Andrzej Konstantynowicz (cc-by-sa)

Taken Oct 28, 2019 by Jean-Christophe Lombardo (cc-by-sa)

Taken Aug 22, 2018 by Rod Grad (cc-by-sa)

Bark

Taken Nov 24, 2022 by Bertrand Guerrier Pacifique (cc-by-sa)

Taken Dec 16, 2020 by Ludovic Respect (cc-by-sa)

Taken Oct 28, 2021 by JYCO (cc-by-sa)

Taken Aug 24, 2022 by Fabrice Rubio (cc-by-sa)

Taken Sep 11, 2022 by Fabrice Rubio (cc-by-sa)

Fruit

Taken Feb 18, 2015 by EOL − Richard Spellenberg (cc-by-nc-sa)

Taken Oct 6, 2015 by Tela Botanica − Jacques MARÉCHAL (cc-by-sa)

Taken Oct 9, 2015 by Tela Botanica − Jacques MARÉCHAL (cc-by-sa)

Taken Nov 10, 2022 by Karsten Hoffmeyer (cc-by-sa)

Taken Aug 10, 2022 by Andrzej Konstantynowicz (cc-by-sa)

Other

Taken Mar 18, 2016 by Tela Botanica − Liliane ROUBAUDI (cc-by-sa)

Taken Mar 18, 2016 by Tela Botanica − Liliane ROUBAUDI (cc-by-sa)

Taken Mar 18, 2016 by Tela Botanica − Liliane ROUBAUDI (cc-by-sa)

Taken Mar 18, 2016 by Tela Botanica − Liliane ROUBAUDI (cc-by-sa)

Taken Mar 18, 2016 by Tela Botanica − Liliane ROUBAUDI (cc-by-sa)

© copyright of the Board of Trustees of the Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew.

© copyright of the Board of Trustees of the Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew.

© copyright of the Board of Trustees of the Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew.

Sources

• WFO (No URL)
• IPNI (No URL)
• GBIF (https://www.gbif.org/species/3132570)
• POWO (http://powo.science.kew.org/taxon/urn:lsid:ipni.org:names:208554-1)
• PlantNet (https://identify.plantnet.org/species/the-plant-list/Galinsoga parviflora Cav.)

Specifications

Growth habit: Forb/herb

Growth

Ph maximum: 6.5

Ph minimum: 5.5

Light: 7

Atmospheric humidity: 5

Soil nutriments: 8