Iva axillaris

{{Short description|North American flowering plant}}

{{Speciesbox

|image = Iva axillaris (4010960273) (2).jpg

|status = {{TNCStatus}}

|status_system = TNC

|genus = Iva

|species = axillaris

|authority =Pursh 1813

|synonyms_ref = [http://www.theplantlist.org/tpl1.1/record/gcc-113490 The Plant List, Iva axillaris Pursh ]

|synonyms = *Iva axillaris var. robustior Hook.

}}

Iva axillaris, called povertyweed or death weed, is a North American species of flowering plants in the family Asteraceae. It grows in the western and central United States and in western Canada, from British Columbia south to California and east as far as the western Great Plains in the Texas Panhandle, Nebraska, the Dakotas, and Manitoba.[http://www.calflora.org/cgi-bin/species_query.cgi?where-taxon=Iva+axillaris Iva axillaris Pursh, povertyweed] Calflora taxon report, University of California[http://bonap.net/MapGallery/County/Iva%20axillaris.png Biota of North America Program 2014 county distribution map] It has also become established in Australia, where it is considered a weed.[http://bie.ala.org.au/species/Iva+axillaris Atlas of Living Australia, Iva axillaris Pursh Death Weed]

Iva axillaris is a wind-pollinated herb up to 60 cm (2 feet) tall, spreading by means of underground rhizomes. It has many small, lance-shaped leaves rarely more than 45 mm (1.8 inches) long. Flowers are set in the axils of the leaves rather than congregated at the tips of branches as in related species. Each head can contain 9-12 florets.[http://www.efloras.org/florataxon.aspx?flora_id=1&taxon_id=250067018 Flora of North America, Iva axillaris Pursh 1813][http://pubs.aic.ca/doi/pdf/10.4141/cjps75-040 Best, K.F. 1975. Biology of Canadian weeds, 10, Iva axillaris Pursh. Canadian Journal of Plant Science 55:293-301] includes photos, distribution map, description, ecological information Flowers bloom May to October.