Adenocaulon bicolor Hook.

Taxonomy and Common Name

Adenocaulon bicolor Hook., commonly known as American trailplant, has a thin, glandular, erect, branching stem.

Basal Leaf Placement and Coloration

Triangular leaves grow only at the plant's base; these basal leaves are green on the upper surface, while their lower surfaces are covered in dense white hairs, which gives the species its name 'bicolor'.

Leaf Size

Each leaf can grow up to 15 cm (5.9 in) wide.

Leaf Margins

Leaf edges are coarsely toothed, and sometimes lack teeth entirely (entire).

Stem Height

The stem can reach around 90 cm (35 in) in height.

Flower Characteristics

Tiny inflorescences of white flowers grow on the plant's branches; each individual flower is only a few millimeters wide.

Fruit Characteristics

Around each inflorescence, there is a distinctive set of club-shaped fruits covered in tiny, stalked, sticky glands.

Seed Dispersal

The plant's seeds are dispersed by sticking to the fur of animals and the clothing of people who walk past its stalks.

Habitat

American trailplant grows in the understory of moist woods and forests, often located near trails.

Flower Odor

Its flowers produce a slightly foul odor that attracts small flies.