Citation: Pursh, Fl. Amer. Sept. 2:743 (1814).

Synonymy: Not Applicable

Common name: Poverty weed.

Description:
Aromatic perennial herb to 30 cm high, with rhizomes; stems numerous, ascending, sparsely branched, pubescent; leaves mostly alternate to subopposite, ovate to elliptic, narrowed at the base, entire, 10-18 mm long, 3-9 mm wide, grey-green concolorous, densely appressed-pubescent, 3-veined.

Capitula 5-7 mm diam., shortly pedunculate in an erect leafy raceme 3-12 cm long; involucral bracts connate, ovate, obtuse, pubescent, c. 3 mm long; female florets 1-6; corollas narrowly tubular; style branches c. 2 mm long.

Achenes obovoid, flattened on the inner face, c. 2 mm long, scurfy, pale; sterile florets 6-12; corolla campanulate, c. 4 mm long, yellow; anthers yellow.

	Branch, fruiting capitulum and leaf.
Image source: fig. 648 in Jessop J.P. & Toelken H.R. (Ed.) 1986. Flora of South Australia (4th edn).

Published illustration: Parsons (1973) Noxious weeds of Victoria, p. 108.

Distribution:  An uncommon and localised weed of cultivated land.   Vic.   Native to North America. Conservation status: naturalised Flowering time: Dec. — Feb.

SA Distribution Map based on current data relating to specimens held in the State Herbarium of South Australia

Biology: Iva is a proclaimed noxious weed in most States; it is not poisonous but is a potential competitor with crops and pastures, especially on saline, alkaline and over-grazed land.

Author: Not yet available