Tropical whiteweed (Ageratum conyzoides, Sp. Pl.: 839 (1753))

Family: Asteraceae

Author: L.

Bibliography: Sp. Pl.: 839 (1753)

Year: 1753

Status: accepted

Rank: species

Genus: Ageratum

Vegetable: Unknown

Observations: Mexico

Description

Tropical whiteweed, known by its scientific name Ageratum conyzoides, is a plant that has captured the interest of botanists and plant enthusiasts alike. First documented in 1753 by the renowned botanist Carl Linnaeus in his seminal work, “Species Plantarum,” this plant has since been recognized for its distinct characteristics and widespread presence.

Originating in the rich biodiversity of Mexico, tropical whiteweed belongs to the Asteraceae family, which is one of the largest families of flowering plants. Characterized by its hardy nature, Ageratum conyzoides thrives in a variety of environments but is predominantly found in tropical and subtropical regions. The plant often forms dense clusters and is easily identified by its soft, hairy leaves and small, fluffy white flowers.

Frequently observed in roadside ditches, along pathways, and in disturbed sites, this plant is not only resilient but also fast-growing. Despite its aesthetic appeal, tropical whiteweed is often considered a weed due to its invasive nature, capable of quickly colonizing and outcompeting native plants. This trait necessitates careful management in agricultural and natural settings to prevent it from becoming overly dominant.

Beyond its reputation as a weed, tropical whiteweed has also been studied for its potential medicinal properties. Traditional practices have utilized various parts of the plant to address ailments ranging from skin infections to gastrointestinal issues, though modern research continues to explore and validate these uses.

In summary, tropical whiteweed (Ageratum conyzoides) is a fascinating plant recognized in the scientific community since the 18th century, prominently noted for its adaptability and medicinal potential, despite also being seen as an invasive species in many regions where it naturally occurs.

Common Names

Eng: tropical whiteweed, billygoat-plant, billygoat-weed, bluebonnet, bluetop, goatweed
Fra: ageratum fausse conyze, azier françois, bouton
Run: akalura
Ara: borgoman
Spa: chuva
En: Tropical whiteweed, Bastard argimony, Floss flower, Goat weed, Billy goat weed, Invading ageratum, Sweet barzey, Sweet basil, Nonokot, Ḍus-beḍḍusân, Billygoat-plant, Billygoat-weed, Bluebonnet, Bluetop, Goatweed, Whiteweed, White Cap, Billygoat Weed, Appa grass, Flossflower, White weed, Yerba de Cabrio
Af: Indringer ageratum
Am: ጉንያቶ
Ar: برجمان (بُرجمان), برقان ( بُرقانْ), بركان (بِركان), كرنك (كُرِنْك), أجيراتم كوشاني, Borgoman
Bm: Nugu
Bn: উচুন্টি
My: ကဒူးဖို
Zh: 藿香蓟, 藿香薊
Cs: Nestařec hnidákovitý
Fr: Herbe à femmes, Ageratum fausse conyze, Azier françois, Bouton
Id: Bandotan
Jv: Bérokan
Kn: ಉರಾಳ
Rw: Inkuruba, Kanyarububa, Karuka, Kishibandekwe
Rn: Akalura
Lu: Kolokoswe, Mutombe-leyombe
Ms: Selasih dandi
Ml: അപ്പ
Ne: गन्धेझार
Fa: گل ابری
Pt: Mentrasto
Sk: Agerát hnidákovitý
Es: Celestine azul, Chuva, Hierba de dolor, Yerba de Cabrio
Su: Babadotan
Sv: Läkeageratum
Zh-tw: 藿香薊
Th: สาบแร้งสาบกา
Vi: Cây cứt lợn

Synonyms

• Ageratum arsenei (B.L.Rob.)
• Caelestina suffruticosa (Sweet)
• Ageratum suffruticosum (Regel)
• Carelia conyzoides ((L.) Kuntze)
• Carelia brachystephana (Kuntze)
• Carelia mutica (Kuntze)
• Ageratum ciliare (L.)
• Ageratum odoratum (E.Vilm.)
• Alomia coelestina ((Regel) B.L.Rob.)
• Ageratum koulianum (Bhellum)
• Ageratum brachystephanum (Regel)
• Ageratum oliveri (R.M.King & H.Rob.)
• Caelestina latifolia (Benth.)
• Eupatorium paleaceum (Sessé & Moc.)
• Ageratum sandwicense (H.Lév.)
• Ageratum conyzoides var. inaequipaleaceum (Hieron.)
• Ageratum conyzoides subsp. latifolium ((Cav.) M.F.Johnson)
• Carelia latifolia ((Benth.) Kuntze)
• Ageratum cordifolium (Roxb.)
• Sparganophorus obtusifolius (Lag.)
• Ageratum oerstedii (B.L.Rob.)
• Ageratum coeruleum (Desf.)
• Ageratum hirsutum (Poir.)
• Ageratum obtusifolium (Lam.)
• Ageratum hirtum (Lam.)
• Ageratum nanum (Sch.Bip.)
• Ageratum muticum (Griseb.)
• Ageratum album (Steud.)
• Phalacraea coelestina (Regel)
• Ageratum humile (Larrañaga)
• Ageratum latifolium var. galapageium (B.L.Rob.)
• Ageratum conyzoides var. obtusifolium ((Lam.) DC.)
• Eupatorium conyzoides ((L.) E.H.L.Krause)
• Ageratum latifolium ((Benth.) Hemsl.)

Distribution

• Mexico Central (native)
• Mexico Gulf (native)
• Mexico Northeast (native)
• Mexico Northwest (native)
• Mexico Southwest (native)
• Alabama (introduced)
• Andaman Is. (introduced)
• Angola (introduced)
• Argentina Northeast (introduced)
• Argentina Northwest (introduced)
• Assam (introduced)
• Bahamas (introduced)
• Bangladesh (introduced)
• Benin (introduced)
• Bolivia (introduced)
• Botswana (introduced)
• Brazil North (introduced)
• Brazil Northeast (introduced)
• Brazil South (introduced)
• Brazil Southeast (introduced)
• Brazil West-Central (introduced)
• Bulgaria (introduced)
• Burkina (introduced)
• California (introduced)
• Cambodia (introduced)
• Cameroon (introduced)
• Cape Provinces (introduced)
• Cape Verde (introduced)
• Caroline Is. (introduced)
• Central African Repu (introduced)
• Chad (introduced)
• Chagos Archipelago (introduced)
• China North-Central (introduced)
• China South-Central (introduced)
• China Southeast (introduced)
• Christmas I. (introduced)
• Colombia (introduced)
• Comoros (introduced)
• Congo (introduced)
• Connecticut (introduced)
• Cook Is. (introduced)
• Costa Rica (introduced)
• Cuba (introduced)
• Dominican Republic (introduced)
• East Himalaya (introduced)
• Ecuador (introduced)
• Egypt (introduced)
• Ethiopia (introduced)
• Fiji (introduced)
• Florida (introduced)
• France (introduced)
• French Guiana (introduced)
• Gabon (introduced)
• Georgia (introduced)
• Guinea-Bissau (introduced)
• Gulf of Guinea Is. (introduced)
• Guyana (introduced)
• Hainan (introduced)
• Haiti (introduced)
• Hawaii (introduced)
• India (introduced)
• Italy (introduced)
• Ivory Coast (introduced)
• Jawa (introduced)
• Kazan-retto (introduced)
• Kentucky (introduced)
• Kenya (introduced)
• Korea (introduced)
• KwaZulu-Natal (introduced)
• Laccadive Is. (introduced)
• Laos (introduced)
• Leeward Is. (introduced)
• Madagascar (introduced)
• Madeira (introduced)
• Malaya (introduced)
• Maldives (introduced)
• Mali (introduced)
• Marianas (introduced)
• Marquesas (introduced)
• Marshall Is. (introduced)
• Maryland (introduced)
• Mauritania (introduced)
• Mauritius (introduced)
• Mississippi (introduced)
• Missouri (introduced)
• Mozambique (introduced)
• Myanmar (introduced)
• Nansei-shoto (introduced)
• Nepal (introduced)
• New Caledonia (introduced)
• New South Wales (introduced)
• Nicobar Is. (introduced)
• Nigeria (introduced)
• Niue (introduced)
• Norfolk Is. (introduced)
• North Carolina (introduced)
• Northern Provinces (introduced)
• Northern Territory (introduced)
• Ogasawara-shoto (introduced)
• Oman (introduced)
• Pakistan (introduced)
• Palestine (introduced)
• Panamá (introduced)
• Paraguay (introduced)
• Peru (introduced)
• Philippines (introduced)
• Puerto Rico (introduced)
• Queensland (introduced)
• Rodrigues (introduced)
• Réunion (introduced)
• Samoa (introduced)
• Saudi Arabia (introduced)
• Senegal (introduced)
• Seychelles (introduced)
• Society Is. (introduced)
• Socotra (introduced)
• South China Sea (introduced)
• Sri Lanka (introduced)
• Sudan (introduced)
• Suriname (introduced)
• Swaziland (introduced)
• Taiwan (introduced)
• Thailand (introduced)
• Togo (introduced)
• Tonga (introduced)
• Transcaucasus (introduced)
• Trinidad-Tobago (introduced)
• Tuamotu (introduced)
• Tubuai Is. (introduced)
• Turks-Caicos Is. (introduced)
• Uruguay (introduced)
• Uzbekistan (introduced)
• Venezuela (introduced)
• Venezuelan Antilles (introduced)
• Vietnam (introduced)
• West Himalaya (introduced)
• Windward Is. (introduced)
• Yugoslavia (introduced)
• Zambia (introduced)
• Zaïre (introduced)
• Zimbabwe (introduced)

Additional Images

Habit

Taken Nov 11, 2019 by Charles Blancher (cc-by-sa)

Taken Jul 26, 2021 by Maarten Vanhove (cc-by-sa)

Taken Apr 27, 2022 by Veronique Sarthou (cc-by-sa)

Taken Jul 20, 2021 by Trap Hers (cc-by-sa)

Taken Jun 28, 2021 by Richard Chesher (cc-by-sa)

Flower

Taken Jun 28, 2021 by Richard Chesher (cc-by-sa)

Taken Jun 28, 2021 by Richard Chesher (cc-by-sa)

Taken Nov 14, 2021 by o p (cc-by-sa)

Taken Feb 7, 2022 by Dos Santos Vinicius (cc-by-sa)

Taken Sep 25, 2019 by Serge Morand (cc-by-sa)

Leaf

Taken Nov 6, 2021 by Gi Gillian (cc-by-sa)

Taken Sep 3, 2020 by Reinhard Damanik (cc-by-sa)

Taken Nov 14, 2021 by o p (cc-by-sa)

Taken Jun 20, 2020 by Zetla Free (cc-by-sa)

Taken Jun 28, 2021 by Richard Chesher (cc-by-sa)

Bark

Taken Sep 7, 2022 by Rudranil Das (cc-by-sa)

Taken Apr 16, 2022 by Skyler (cc-by-sa)

Taken Mar 26, 2021 by Valero Omar (cc-by-sa)

Taken Aug 17, 2020 by pinto da rocha neto walter (cc-by-sa)

Taken May 4, 2021 by mick mick (cc-by-sa)

Fruit

Taken Aug 24, 2022 by Franco Colnago (cc-by-sa)

Taken Jan 31, 2020 by Julien Champ (cc-by-sa)

Taken Oct 13, 2021 by Mail Mail (cc-by-sa)

Taken Nov 2, 2020 by jessa ocon (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)
• WFO (No URL)
• GBIF (https://www.gbif.org/species/5401673)
• POWO (http://powo.science.kew.org/taxon/urn:lsid:ipni.org:names:7086-2)
• PlantNet (https://identify.plantnet.org/species/the-plant-list/Ageratum conyzoides (L.) L.)

Specifications

Growth