About Gamochaeta calviceps (Fernald) Cabrera
Gamochaeta calviceps, commonly called the narrowleaf purple everlasting, is a species of flowering plant belonging to the family Asteraceae. It is native to South America and the southeastern United States, ranging from Texas and Oklahoma east to Virginia, and it is not found in Florida. It has also become naturalized in other regions including Europe, Taiwan, New Zealand, and California, among others. Gamochaeta calviceps is an annual herb that grows up to 55 cm (22 inches) tall. Its leaves are long and narrow, reaching up to 6 cm (2.4 inches) in length. Most leaves are clustered near the base of the plant, and they are often folded along their midline. The plant produces numerous small flower heads arranged in elongated clusters. Each flower head holds 2 to 4 purple disc flowers, and does not produce any ray flowers. Its blooming period runs from April to July. It typically grows in fields, disturbed sites, flower beds, and along the edges of woods. Gamochaeta calviceps is similar in appearance to G. falcata, and for a long time many G. calviceps specimens collected in the United States were incorrectly identified as G. falcata.
