About Elephantopus carolinianus Raeusch.
Elephantopus carolinianus Raeusch. is a perennial herb that can reach up to 120 cm (4 feet) in height. Its leaves are elliptic, ovate, or lanceolate, growing up to 12 cm (5 inches) long. Leaves are largest near the base of the plant and decrease in size further up the stem. The upper surface of the leaves is darker than the lower surface, and leaves are covered in light hairs. Leaves are arranged alternately along the stem, with spacing between leaves increasing as you move up the stem; leaves at the base of the plant grow very close together, as little as 0.6 centimetres (0.25 in) apart. This plant produces many small flower heads arranged in a tight cluster. Each flower head typically contains only 4 to 5 florets. The entire flower head cluster is held up by three leaf-like bracts that measure 1–3 centimetres (0–1 in) long. Flowers are lavender, or occasionally white, and bloom from August to October; individual flowers last only one day. This species is native to the south-central and southeastern United States, ranging from Florida north to Ohio, Illinois, and Pennsylvania, and west to Texas, Oklahoma, and Kansas. It grows in open or shaded pine forests and mixed forests, in areas that typically have damp to wet, often sandy soil. Elephantopus carolinianus acts as the larval host plant for the Cremastobombycia ignota moth.
