Ebolo
Pink Ragwort
Crassocephalum crepidioides ?
Observed in a garden area at Kitale, Kenya. December 2012.
This weedy composite was observed in several garden/small farm settings in and around Kitale. Herbaceous plants about 1 meter tall. The flower heads in groups of ten or more on peduncles that weep downwards. Feeding activity by a variety of insect species means that this is a native plant to the Rift Valley.
- Disc Flowers: The numerous disc flowers are tall and slender with bright pink to orange tubes. The purple-flowered species is similar and named C. rubens.
- Ray Flowers: No ray flowers.
- The flower heads begin drooping even as they form.
- Phyllaries: One series of bracts closely envelopes the florets and developing seeds. Several short, aristate bracts. The phyllary tips are darker brown. These bracts as well as the peduncles are clothed in soft hairs.
- Pappus: The seeds are topped by long silky hairs.
- Leaves: The leaves are simple or sometimes with a pair or two of lobes. The margins are variously toothed.
