About Carphephorus odoratissimus (J.F.Gmel.) H.J.-C.Hebert
Carphephorus odoratissimus, commonly known as vanillaleaf, is a synonymized under the name Trilisa odoratissima, a species of North American plant in the Asteraceae family. It is native to the southeastern United States, specifically the states of Georgia, North Carolina, South Carolina, Alabama, Mississippi, Louisiana, and Florida. This plant is a largely glabrous herbaceous perennial that can grow up to 180 cm (6 feet) tall. It produces a flat-topped inflorescence holding many small purplish flower heads, which contain only disc florets and no ray florets. There are two recognized varieties of this species: Carphephorus odoratissimus var. odoratissimus, found in Georgia, North Carolina, South Carolina, Alabama, Mississippi, Louisiana, and Florida; and Carphephorus odoratissimus var. subtropicanus Wunderlin & B.F.Hansen, found in Central and South Florida. C. odoratissimus grows primarily on sandy and well-drained loamy soils. It can be found in a range of habitats: oak-pine woodlands on Ultisols, on sand ridges within flatwoods, in moist areas, within burned upland longleaf pine-wiregrass communities, and in pine-saw palmetto woodlands. The common name vanillaleaf refers specifically to Carphephorus odoratissimus var. odoratissimus, and comes from the vanilla-like scent released by its foliage. This scent comes from a high 1.6% content of coumarin, the major aromatic compound in the plant. This variety has a documented history of use in cosmetics, herbal medicine, and as an additive to smoking tobacco. Its leaves can be used to prepare a tonic to treat malaria.
