SMALLFLOWER GALINSOGA, Galinsoga
parviflora Cav. 1, entire plant; 2, flower head; 3,
ray flower. Annual, reproducing by seeds. Stem 1 to 2 feet
(30 to 60 cm) tall, erect or spreading, much branched, slender, hairy.
Leaves opposite, oval to lance-shaped, pointed at tip, thin, with
toothed margin. Flower heads small, numerous, scattered at
ends of branches. Ray flowers very small, white, 4 to 5 in number, surrounding
the small yellow disk flowers. Seed about 1/16 inch (1.5 mm) long,
wedge-shaped, 4-sided, dark brown to black, with a fringe of tiny scales
at one end. Found in gardens, dooryards, waste places, and lowland
fields, especially in damp areas with rich soil. Hairy galinsoga, Galinsoga
ciliata (Raf.) Blake, is similar to the above and is found in similar
places, often more commonly. It has a more pubescent stem than smallflower
galinsoga, and has well developed pappus scales on the ray flowers. Ray
flowers of smallflower galinsoga have either very small or no pappus scales.