''Parthenium'' is a genus of

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annuals, biennials, perennials, subshrubs, and shrubs in the tribe

Heliantheae The Heliantheae (sometimes called the sunflower tribe) are the third-largest Tribe (biology), tribe in the sunflower family (Asteraceae). With some 190 genera and nearly 2500 recognized species, only the tribes Senecioneae and Astereae are large ...

within the family

Asteraceae Asteraceae () is a large family (biology), family of flowering plants that consists of over 32,000 known species in over 1,900 genera within the Order (biology), order Asterales. The number of species in Asteraceae is rivaled only by the Orchi ...

and subfamily Asteroideae. The name ''Parthenium'' is an evolution of the

Ancient Greek Ancient Greek (, ; ) includes the forms of the Greek language used in ancient Greece and the classical antiquity, ancient world from around 1500 BC to 300 BC. It is often roughly divided into the following periods: Mycenaean Greek (), Greek ...

name παρθένιον (''parthenion''), which referred to ''

Tanacetum parthenium ''Tanacetum parthenium'', known as feverfew, is a flowering plant in the daisy family, Asteraceae. It may be grown as an ornament, and may be identified by its synonyms, ''Chrysanthemum parthenium'' and ''Pyrethrum parthenium''. Having its ...

''. The name is possibly derived from the

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word παρθένος (''parthenos'') which means "virgin". Members of the genus are commonly known as feverfew. Notable species include guayule ('' P. argentatum'') which has been used as a rubber substitute, especially during the Second World War; and also '' P. hysterophorus'', a serious invasive species in the

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Species

These include:Flann, C (ed) 2009+ Global Compositae Checklist
* '' Parthenium alpinum'' (Nutt.) Torr. & A.Gray – Arkansas River feverfew - NM CO WY * '' Parthenium argentatum'' A.Gray – Guayule - TX,

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* '' Parthenium cineraceum'' Rollins -

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* '' Parthenium confertum'' A.Gray – Gray's feverfew - AZ NM TX Chihuahua,

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* '' Parthenium fruticosum'' Less. - from

Chiapas Chiapas, officially the Free and Sovereign State of Chiapas, is one of the states that make up the Political divisions of Mexico, 32 federal entities of Mexico. It comprises Municipalities of Chiapas, 124 municipalities and its capital and large ...

* '' Parthenium hysterophorus'' L. – Santa Maria feverfew, whitetop weed - widespread in

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; as an invasive species in India, Australia, and Africa * '' Parthenium incanum'' Kunth – mariola - NV UT AZ NM TX Chihuahua,

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, Hidalgo,

* '' Parthenium integrifolium'' L. – American feverfew, wild quinine - from TX to MA + MN * '' Parthenium ligulatum'' (M.E. Jones) Barneby – Colorado feverfew - CO UT * '' Parthenium rollinsianum'' Rzed. -

* '' Parthenium schottii'' Greenm. ex Millsp. & Chase -

Yucatán Yucatán, officially the Free and Sovereign State of Yucatán, is one of the 31 states which, along with Mexico City, constitute the 32 federal entities of Mexico. It comprises 106 separate municipalities, and its capital city is Mérida. ...

* '' Parthenium tomentosum'' DC. -

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Importance

In North America, the

Jicarilla Apache Jicarilla Apache (, Jicarilla language: Jicarilla Dindéi), one of several loosely organized autonomous bands of the Eastern Apache, refers to the members of the Jicarilla Apache Nation currently living in New Mexico and speaking a Southern Athaba ...

people used '' Parthenium incanum'' for medicine (Opler 1946: 8). The sap of guayule ('' P. argentatum'') is a source of

natural rubber Rubber, also called India rubber, latex, Amazonian rubber, ''caucho'', or ''caoutchouc'', as initially produced, consists of polymers of the organic compound isoprene, with minor impurities of other organic compounds. Types of polyisoprene ...

. Parthenium hysterophorus is a common invasive species in India, Australia, and parts of Africa. Its pollen can cause

allergies Allergies, also known as allergic diseases, are various conditions caused by hypersensitivity of the immune system to typically harmless substances in the environment. These diseases include Allergic rhinitis, hay fever, Food allergy, food al ...

and the sap is toxic.

Gallery

Image:Parthenium argentatum (USDA).jpg, '' Parthenium argentatum'' File:Parthenium IMG20200104105005.jpg Image:Parthenium integrifolium wild quinine MN 2007.JPG, Wild quinine ('' Parthenium integrifolium'') Parthenium infestation in Achanakmar Wildlife Sanctuary

Parthenium infestation in Achanakmar Wildlife Sanctuary

References

* * Opler, Morris E. (1946). Childhood and youth in Jicarilla Apache society. Publications of the Frederick Webb Hodge Anniversary Fund (Vol. 5). Los Angeles: The Southwest Museum Administrator of the Fund.

Further information

* * * {{Authority control Asteraceae genera