Flaveria linearis

Flaveria linearis Lag.

Common Names: Yellow Top

Family: Asteraceae

Habit: Flaveria linearis a woody perennial shrub to 2 meters in height. The sessile leaves are linear, arranged oppositely, to 15 cm in length, 1 cm in width, with an acute leaf apex, and an entire leaf margin.

The flowers are arranged in corymbs of heads subtended an involucre made of 5-8 series of phyllaries. The imperfect flowers have 3 yellow fused petals and no stamens. The perfect flowers have a corolla with 5 fused, yellow petals.  There are 5 stamens fused at their base. In both types of flowers the ovary is inferior with a single locule but only the imperfect flowers have functional ovules.  The fruit is an achene at maturity that retains the modified calyx (pappus) that is fused forming a shallow cup.

Habitat: Flaveria linearis grows in Pine Woodlands and edges of wetlands.

Distribution: Flaveria linearis occurs in the northern island groupings of the Lucayan Archipelago, Florida, the wider Caribbean region, and Mexico.

Medicinal/Cultural/Economic usage: Flaveria linearis is not known to be used medicinally in the Lucayan Archipelago.

Flaveria linearis is used in the horticultural industry due to its attractive yellow flowers.