Dogfennel

Eupatorium capillifolium (Lam.) Small

Asteraceae (Sunflower Family)

Description

Dogfennel is a native, warm season, rhizomatous perennial plant. As an erect plant, it can grow up to 3 meters in height. The leaves are divided into several thread-like segments and are one or two pinnately divided. The upper stem leaves may be entire or not divided. The flowering heads occur as elongated leafy, much branched or wandlike heads. The phyllaries subtending the flowers are hairless and in various lengths. The phyllaries are mostly green with whitish margins. The numerous tiny flowers are white. The seeds are very small and measure about 1 mm in length. Dogfennel has little value for livestock and wildlife use and is usually considered a pest plant.