About Elephantopus tomentosus L.
Elephantopus tomentosus L. grows to around 2 feet, or approximately 0.6 meters, tall. Its leaves are shaped obovate to oblanceolate, measuring between 3 and 8 centimeters long, and 4 to 12 millimeters wide. This species flowers from August to November; its inflorescence is most often pale pink or purple, and rarely white. This species is native to the coastal plain of the southeastern United States, where its range extends from Maryland to Florida, and west to Texas and Arkansas. It is also native further south than the United States, in Chiapas, Mexico. E. tomentosus is commonly found in woodlands and along woodland borders. It has also been observed growing in other habitats including mixed woodlands, upland pine woodlands, and along river edges. This species is classified as a facultative species. In fire ecology, populations of E. tomentosus are observed to increase significantly in areas that have undergone prescribed fire. This species occurs at its highest frequency after prescribed burns carried out in spring and winter.
