''Elephantopus mollis'', common names tobacco weed, and soft elephantsfoot, is a tropical species of flowering plant in the family Asteraceae. ''Elephantopus mollis'' is native to South America as far south as Jujuy Province in Argentina, as well as the West Indies, Central America, and Mexico as far north as Tamaulipas and

Nuevo León Nuevo León () is a state in the northeast region of Mexico. The state was named after the New Kingdom of León, an administrative territory from the Viceroyalty of New Spain, itself was named after the historic Spanish Kingdom of León. With a ...

. It is also naturalized in Australia, south-eastern Asia, some

Pacific Islands Collectively called the Pacific Islands, the islands in the Pacific Ocean are further categorized into three major island groups: Melanesia, Micronesia, and Polynesia. Depending on the context, the term ''Pacific Islands'' may refer to one of se ...

, and tropical Africa. The species is considered a noxious weed some places.Queensland Government, Department of Agriculture and Fisheries, Tobacco weed ''(Elephantopus mollis)''
/ref> ''Elephantopus mollis'' is a coarse perennial herb up to 20 cm (8 inches) tall. Leaves are dark green on the upper side, lighter green on the lower surface, oblanceolate to elliptical, up to 22 cm (9 inches) long. The plant produces arrays of small

flower heads A pseudanthium (Greek for "false flower"; ) is an inflorescence that resembles a flower. The word is sometimes used for other structures that are neither a true flower nor a true inflorescence. Examples of pseudanthia include flower heads, compos ...

, each with only 4 white or pink florets.Flora of the Marquesas, ''Elephantopus mollis'' Kunth
/ref>

References

Vernonieae Plants described in 1818 Flora of Mexico Flora of Central America Flora of South America Flora of the Caribbean Flora without expected TNC conservation status {{Asteraceae-stub