Acilepis saligna

Acilepis saligna (DC.) H.Rob.

Acilepis saligna is a perennial herb in the Asteraceae family, native to regions including Assam, Bangladesh, China, India, Laos, Myanmar, Nepal, Thailand, and Vietnam. It was described in 1999. The plant can grow up to 2.5 meters tall, with erect, ribbed, and hairy stems. Its leaves are lanceolate or elliptic, with serrated edges and a rough texture due to whip-shaped hairs and glands. The plant produces terminal or axillary capitulescences with campanulate flowers and purple corollas. The achenes are ribbed and hairy, with a pappus of bristles.

Description

Acilepis saligna is a tall perennial herb reaching 2 to 2.5 meters in height. The stems are erect, ribbed, and covered with silky hairs. Leaves measure 10 to 15 cm in length and 3 to 6 cm in width, with a lanceolate or elliptic shape, serrated margins, and a cuneate base. Both leaf surfaces are rough, bearing whip-shaped hairs and capitate glands. The plant's capitulescences are terminal or axillary, arranged in a paniculate inflorescence. Each capitulum is campanulate, measuring 6 to 7 mm in length. The involucral bracts are light green or purplish at the tip, with an arachnoid texture. The corollas are funnel-shaped, purple, and glandular. Achenes are subterete, 10-ribbed, and covered with twin hairs and capitate glands. The pappus consists of bristles, with the inner ones measuring 6 to 7 mm in length.