Feverfew

Parthenium is a genus of North American shrubs in the tribe Heliantheae within the family Asteraceae and subfamily Asteroideae.^[4][2][3]

The name Parthenium is an evolution of the Ancient Greek name παρθένιον (parthenion), which referred to Tanacetum parthenium.^{[5][6] [7]} The name is possibly derived from the Greek word παρθένος (parthenos) which means "virgin".^[8]

Members of the genus are commonly known as feverfew.^[9] Notable species include guayule (P. argentatum) which has been used as a rubber substitute, especially during the Second World War;^[10] and also P. hysterophorus, a serious invasive species in the Old World.^[11]

Species

These include:^[3]

• Parthenium alpinum (Nutt.) Torr. & A.Gray – Arkansas River feverfew - NM CO WY
• Parthenium argentatum A.Gray – Guayule - TX, Coahuila, Guanajuato, Nuevo León, San Luis Potosí, Zacatecas
• Parthenium cineraceum Rollins - Bolivia, Paraguay
• Parthenium confertum A.Gray – Gray's feverfew - AZ NM TX Chihuahua, Coahuila, Nuevo León, San Luis Potosí, Querétaro, Tamaulipas
• Parthenium fruticosum Less. - from Tamaulipas to Chiapas
• Parthenium hysterophorus L. – Santa Maria feverfew, whitetop weed - widespread in North + South America; as an invasive species in India, Australia, and Africa
• Parthenium incanum Kunth – mariola - NV UT AZ NM TX Chihuahua, Coahuila, Durango, Hidalgo, Nuevo León, San Luis Potosí, Zacatecas
• Parthenium integrifolium L. – American feverfew, wild quinine - from TX to MA + MN
• Parthenium ligulatum (M.E. Jones) Barneby – Colorado feverfew - CO UT
• Parthenium rollinsianum Rzed. - San Luis Potosí
• Parthenium schottii Greenm. ex Millsp. & Chase - Yucatán
• Parthenium tomentosum DC. - Oaxaca, Puebla

Importance

In North America, the Jicarilla Apache people used Parthenium incanum for medicine (Opler 1946: 8). The sap of guayule (P. argentatum) is a source of natural rubber.^[12] Parthenium hysterophorus is a common invasive species in India, Australia, and parts of Africa. Its pollen can cause allergies and the sap is toxic.

Gallery

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  Parthenium argentatum

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  Wild quinine (Parthenium integrifolium)

Parthenium hysterophorus in Achanakmar Tiger Reserve

References

• Everitt, J.H.; Lonard, R.L.; Little, C.R. (2007). Weeds in South Texas and Northern Mexico. Lubbock: Texas Tech University Press. ISBN 0-89672-614-2
• Opler, Morris E. (1946). Childhood and youth in Jicarilla Apache society. Publications of the Frederick Webb Hodge Anniversary Fund (Vol. 5). Los Angeles: The Southwest Museum Administrator of the Fund.