About Galinsoga parviflora Cav.
Galinsoga parviflora Cav. is a branched herb that grows up to 75 cm (30 in) tall. It bears opposite stalked leaves with toothed margins, and its flowers form small heads. It has 3 to 8 white ray-florets, around 10 mm (1⁄2 in) long, each with 3 lobes. The central disc florets are yellow and tubular. Galinsoga parviflora is commonly called gallant soldier, and can be hard to distinguish from the similar species shaggy soldier, also known as Galinsoga quadriradiata. While gallant soldier is usually more-or-less hairless (glabrous), and shaggy soldier tends to be very hairy, this feature alone is not enough for accurate identification. To confirm identification, you need to check with a hand lens that gallant soldier has three-pointed tips on the scales of its receptacle, and that the scales in its pappus have smooth margins and a blunt point at the top. This species is native to South America, but it is now widely naturalized across many other regions, including North America, Australasia, and Northern Ireland, where there are a few recorded occurrences of both G. parviflora and G. quadriradiata. G. parviflora has multiple culinary uses. In Colombia, it is added as a herb to the soup ajiaco. In Oaxaca, Mexico, it is used as an ingredient in sopa de guías, a soup prepared with squash vines, fresh corn, and wild herbs. It can also be included as an ingredient in leaf salads, although its subtle flavor, which resembles artichoke, mostly develops after cooking. In eastern Africa, the whole plant is collected from the wild, and its leaves, stems, and flowers are eaten; it is also dried and ground into powder to add to soups.
