Parthenium is a genus of North American annuals, biennials, perennials, subshrubs, and shrubs in the tribe Heliantheae within the family Asteraceae and subfamily Asteroideae.Linnaeus, Carl von. 1753. Species Plantarum 2: 988 in Latin
The name Parthenium is an evolution of the Ancient Greek name παρθένιον (parthenion), which referred to Tanacetum parthenium. The name is possibly derived from the Greek word παρθένος (parthenos) which means "virgin".
Members of the genus are commonly known as feverfew. Notable species include guayule (P. argentatum) which has been used as a rubber substitute, especially during the Second World War;Ray, D.T. 1993. Guayule: A source of natural rubber. p. 338-343. In: J. Janick and J.E. Simon (eds.), New crops. Wiley, New York. and also P. hysterophorus, a serious invasive species in the Old World.
Species These include:Flann, C (ed) 2009+ Global Compositae Checklist Parthenium alpinum (Nutt.) Torr. & A.Gray – Arkansas River feverfew - NM CO WY Parthenium argentatum A.Gray – Guayule - TX, Coahuila, Guanajuato, Nuevo León, San Luis Potosí, Zacatecas Parthenium cineraceum Rollins - Bolivia, Paraguay Parthenium confertum A.Gray – Gray's feverfew - AZ NM TX Chihuahua, Coahuila, Nuevo León, San Luis Potosí, Querétaro, Tamaulipas Parthenium fruticosum Less. - from Tamaulipas to Chiapas Parthenium hysterophorus L. – Santa Maria feverfew, whitetop weed - widespread in North + South America; as an invasive species in India, Australia, and Africa Parthenium incanum Kunth – mariola - NV UT AZ NM TX Chihuahua, Coahuila, Durango, Hidalgo, Nuevo León, San Luis Potosí, Zacatecas Parthenium integrifolium L. – American feverfew, wild quinine - from TX to MA + MN Parthenium ligulatum (M.E. Jones) Barneby – Colorado feverfew - CO UT Parthenium rollinsianum Rzed. - San Luis Potosí Parthenium schottii Greenm. ex Millsp. & Chase - Yucatán Parthenium tomentosum DC. - Oaxaca, Puebla
Importance In North America, the Jicarilla Apache people used Parthenium incanum for medicine (Opler 1946: 8). The sap of guayule (P. argentatum) is a source of natural rubber. Parthenium hysterophorus is a common invasive species in India, Australia, and parts of Africa. Its pollen can cause allergies and the sap is toxic.
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References
Opler, Morris E. (1946). Childhood and youth in Jicarilla Apache society. Publications of the Frederick Webb Hodge Anniversary Fund (Vol. 5). Los Angeles: The Southwest Museum Administrator of the Fund.
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