About Elephantopus elatus Bertol.
Elephantopus elatus Bertol. is a perennial herb that grows up to 70 cm (28 in) tall. Its leaves are oblanceolate, reaching up to 20 cm (7.9 in) in length, and are darker on the upper surface than on the lower surface. The plant produces many small flower heads arranged in a tight cluster, with each head generally holding only 4 to 5 florets. This species flowers between August and November. Its geographic range extends from South Carolina to Florida, and stretches westward to Louisiana. It has been found in habitats including pine flatwoods, sandhills, oak hammocks, and other well-drained environments. In southern Florida, Elephantopus elatus grows primarily in dry mesic communities that occur on poorly drained Spodosols. This species can survive repeated burns.
