''Chromolaena'' is a genus of about 165 species of perennials and

shrub A shrub (often also called a bush) is a small-to-medium-sized perennial woody plant. Unlike herbaceous plants, shrubs have persistent woody stems above the ground. Shrubs can be either deciduous or evergreen. They are distinguished from trees ...

s in the family Asteraceae. The name is derived from the Greek words (), meaning "color", and () or () meaning "cloak". It refers to the colored phyllaries of some species. Members of the genus are native to the

Americas The Americas, which are sometimes collectively called America, are a landmass comprising the totality of North and South America. The Americas make up most of the land in Earth's Western Hemisphere and comprise the New World. Along with th ...

, from the southern United States to South America (especially Brazil). One species, '' Chromolaena odorata'', has been introduced to many parts of the world where it is considered a weed. The plants of this genus were earlier taxonomically classified under the genus '' Eupatorium'', but are now considered to be more closely related to other genera in the tribe Eupatorieae.

Species

There are about 165 species, including: * ''

Chromolaena bigelovii ''Chromolaena bigelovii'' called Bigelow's false thoroughwort, or Bigelow's thoroughwort, is a North American species of flowering shrub in the family Asteraceae. It is native to northeastern Mexico (Coahuila, Nuevo León, San Luis Potosí) and t ...

'' (

A.Gray Asa Gray (November 18, 1810 – January 30, 1888) is considered the most important American botanist of the 19th century. His '' Darwiniana'' was considered an important explanation of how religion and science were not necessarily mutually exc ...

) R.M.King &

H.Rob. Harold Ernest Robinson (May 22, 1932 – December 17, 2020) was an American botanist and entomologist. Career Robinson's specialty was the sunflower family (Asteraceae) and the bryophytes. He has named or described over 2,800 new species and ...

– Bigelow's thoroughwort * ''

Chromolaena borinquensis ''Chromolaena borinquensis'', the limestone thoroughwort, is a West Indian species of flowering shrub in the family Asteraceae. It is native to the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico, part of the United States. The epithet ''borinquensis'' is derived f ...

'' (Britt.) R.M.King & H.Rob. – limestone thoroughwort * ''

Chromolaena corymbosa ''Chromolaena'' is a genus of about 165 species of perennials and shrubs in the family Asteraceae. The name is derived from the Greek words (), meaning "color", and () or () meaning "cloak". It refers to the colored phyllaries of some species. ...

'' (Aubl.) R.M.King & H.Rob. – Caribbean thoroughwort * ''

Chromolaena frustrata ''Chromolaena frustrata'' called Cape Sable false thoroughwort, or Cape Sable thoroughwort, is a rare North American species of flowering shrub in the family Asteraceae. It is found only in southern Florida, on the Florida Keys, inside Everglades ...

'' ( B.L.Rob.) R.M.King & H.Rob. – Cape Sable thoroughwort * ''

Chromolaena geraniifolia ''Chromolaena geraniifolia'', the geraniumleaf thoroughwort, is a West Indian species of flowering shrub in the family Asteraceae. It is native to the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico, part of the United States.Puerto Rico) * ''

Chromolaena hirsuta ''Chromolaena hirsuta'' is a South American species of flowering shrub in the family Asteraceae. It is native to Brazil, Bolivia, Uruguay, and Argentina Argentina (), officially the Argentine Republic ( es, link=no, República Argentin ...

'' (Hook. & Arn.) R.M.King & H.Rob. * ''

Chromolaena impetiolaris ''Chromolaena impetiolaris'' is a rare Caribbean species of flowering shrub in the family Asteraceae. It is found only the Island of Dominica in the Lesser Antilles.Chromolaena integrifolia ''Chromolaena integrifolia'' is a Caribbean species of flowering shrub in the family Asteraceae. It is found on the Islands of Dominica, Guadeloupe, La Desirade, Les Saintes, Marie Galante, Montserrat, and St. Kitts in the Lesser Antilles ...

'' (Bertero ex Spreng.) R.M.King & H.Rob. * ''

Chromolaena ivifolia ''Chromolaena ivifolia'' called ivy-leaf false thoroughwort, or ivyleaf thoroughwort, is a species of flowering shrub in the family Asteraceae. It is native to North America and South America, from the south-eastern United States (eastern Texas, ...

'' R.M.King & H.Rob. – ivyleaf thoroughwort * ''

Chromolaena macrodon ''Chromolaena macrodon'' is a rare Caribbean species of flowering shrub in the family Asteraceae. It is found only the Island of Dominica in the Lesser Antilles.Chromolaena misella ''Chromolaena misella'' is a Mexican species of flowering shrub in the family Asteraceae. It is native to the State of Jalisco in western Mexico. ''Chromolaena misella'' is a shrub up to 80 cm (32 inches) tall. Leaves are opposite, 3-nerve ...

'' (McVaugh) R.M.King & H.Rob. * '' Chromolaena odorata'' (L.) R.M.King & H.Rob. – Jack in the bush * '' Chromolaena oteroi'' (Monachino) R.M.King & H.Rob. – Mona Island thoroughwort *'' Chromolaena sagittata'' (A.Gray) R.M.King & H.Rob. * '' Chromolaena sinuata'' (Lam.) R.M.King & H.Rob. – wavyleaf thoroughwort * '' Chromolaena squalida'' (DC.) R.M.King & H.Rob. * ''

Chromolaena trigonocarpa ''Chromolaena trigonocarpa'' is a rare Caribbean species of flowering shrub in the family Asteraceae. It is found only the Island of Dominica in the Lesser Antilles.Chromolaena xalapana'' B.L.Turner In Australia some species are called "triffid weed" (page 6)

References

* * Asteraceae genera {{Eupatorieae-stub