Elephantopus mollis

{{Short description|Species of flowering plant}}

{{Speciesbox

| image = Starr 070328-6161 Elephantopus mollis.jpg

| genus = Elephantopus

| species = mollis

| authority = Kunth

| synonyms_ref = [http://www.theplantlist.org/tpl1.1/record/gcc-112146 The Plant List, Elephantopus mollis Kunth ]

| synonyms =

• Elephantopus cernuus Vell.
• Elephantopus hypomalacus S.F.Blake
• Elephantopus martii Graham
• Elephantopus pilosus Philip.

}}

Elephantopus mollis, common names tobacco weed, and soft elephantsfoot,{{PLANTS|id=ELMO5|taxon=Elephantopus mollis|accessdate=21 June 2015}} is a tropical species of flowering plant in the family Asteraceae.

Elephantopus mollis is native to South America as far south as Jujuy Province in Argentina, as well as the West Indies, Central America, and Mexico as far north as Tamaulipas and Nuevo León.[http://www.tropicos.org/Name/2700684?tab=distribution Tropicos, Elephantopus mollis Kunth ]Cabrera, A. L. 1978. Compositae. 10: 1–726. In A. L. Cabrera (ed.) Flora de la Provincia de Jujuy: Republica Argentina. Instituto Nacional de Tecnología Agropecuaria, Buenos AiresJørgensen, P. M., M. H. Nee & S. G. Beck. (eds.) 2014. Catálogo de las plantas vasculares de Bolivia, Monographs in systematic botany from the Missouri Botanical Garden 127(1–2): i–viii, 1–1744.Rzedowski, J. & G. Calderón de Rzedowski. 1995. Familia Compositae. Tribu Vernonieae. 38: 1–49. In J. Rzedowski & G. Calderón de Rzedowski (eds.) Flora del Bajío y Regiones Adyacentes. Instituto de Ecología A.C., PátzcuaroIdárraga-Piedrahita, A., R. D. C. Ortiz, R. Callejas Posada & M. Merello. (eds.) 2011. Flora de Antioquia: Catálogo de las Plantas Vasculares 2: 9–939. Universidad de Antioquia, MedellínCowan, C. P. 1983. Flora de Tabasco. Listados Florísticos de México1: 1–123 It is also naturalized in Australia, south-eastern Asia, some Pacific Islands, and tropical Africa.[http://bie.ala.org.au/species/urn:lsid:biodiversity.org.au:apni.taxon:630170 Atlas of Living Australia]Jeffrey, C. 1988. Notes on Compositae: V. The Vernonieae in East Tropical Africa. Kew Bulletin 43(2): 195–277. The species is considered a noxious weed some places.[https://www.daf.qld.gov.au/plants/weeds-pest-animals-ants/weeds/a-z-listing-of-weeds/photo-guide-to-weeds/tobacco-weed Queensland Government, Department of Agriculture and Fisheries, Tobacco weed (Elephantopus mollis)][http://www.cabi.org/isc/datasheet/114063 Invasive Species Compendium, Elephantopus mollis ] includes distribution maps

Elephantopus mollis is a coarse perennial herb up to 20 cm (8 inches) tall. Leaves are dark green on the upper side, lighter green on the lower surface, oblanceolate to elliptical, up to 22 cm (9 inches) long. The plant produces arrays of small flower heads, each with only 4 white or pink florets.[http://botany.si.edu/pacificislandbiodiversity/marquesasflora/speciesdescr.cfm?genus=Elephantopus&species=mollis Flora of the Marquesas, Elephantopus mollis Kunth ]