Carphephorus odoratissimus (syn. Trilisa odoratissima), common name vanillaleaf,[2] is a species of North American plants in the family Asteraceae. This species is native to the southeastern United States, including the states of Georgia, North Carolina, South Carolina, Alabama, Mississippi, Louisiana, and Florida.[3][4]
| Carphephorus odoratissimus | |
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| Illustration by Henry Cranke Andrews | |
Scientific classification 
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| Kingdom: | Plantae |
| Clade: | Tracheophytes |
| Clade: | Angiosperms |
| Clade: | Eudicots |
| Clade: | Asterids |
| Order: | Asterales |
| Family: | Asteraceae |
| Genus: | Carphephorus |
| Species: | C. odoratissimus
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| Binomial name | |
| Carphephorus odoratissimus | |
| Synonyms[1] | |
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Carphephorus odoratissimus is a herbaceous perennial up to 180 cm (6 feet) in height, and is largely glabrous. It produces a flat-topped inflorescence with many small purplish flower heads containing disc florets but no ray florets.[2]
- Carphephorus odoratissimus var. odoratissimus - Georgia, North Carolina, South Carolina, Alabama, Mississippi, Louisiana, and Florida
- Carphephorus odoratissimus var. subtropicanus Wunderlin & B.F.Hansen - Central and South Florida
Uses
editCarphephorus odoratissimus var. odoratissimus was given the common name vanillaleaf in reference to the vanilla-like odor that emanates from its foliage, which is due to the high (1.6%) content of coumarin as its major aromatic constituent. As a result, this variety has a history of use in cosmetics, herbal medicine, and as an additive to smoking tobacco.[5]
References
edit- ^ a b The Plant List, Carphephorus odoratissimus (J.F. Gmel.) H.J.-C. Hebert
- ^ a b c "Carphephorus odoratissimus in Flora of North America @ efloras.org". www.efloras.org. Retrieved 2023-12-18.
- ^ Biota of North America Program 2014 county distribution map
- ^ Henry J.-C. Hebert. 1968. Generic considerations concerning Carphephorus and Trilisa (Compositae). Rhodora 70:474-485
- ^ Khan, Ikhlas A.; Ehab, Abourashed A. (2010). Leung's Encyclopedia of Common Natural Ingredients Used in Food, Drugs, and Cosmetics (PDF). Hoboken, NJ USA: John Wiley & Sons. pp. 240–242. ISBN 978-9881607416. Retrieved 21 September 2020.
External links
edit- Florida Native Plant Society
- Atlas of Florida Vascular Plants
- Lady Bird Johnson Wildflower Center, University of Texas
- Alabama Plant Atlas
- photo of herbarium specimen collected in Mississippi
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