Plants of South Eastern New South Wales
Gymnocoronis spilanthoides
Common name
Senegal Tea Plant, Temple Plant, Senegal Tea
Family
Asteraceae
Where found
Along streams and in still to slow-flowing waters, in dams, drains and creeks. Coastal north of Albion Park and in the Sydney area away from the coast.
Notes
Introduced perennial rhizomatous herb to 2.5 m high. Forms a mat of tangled branches in aquatic habitas. Stems initially rounded in cross section, becoming ribbed or six-sided, more or less hairless, becoming prostrate as they age. Leaves opposite each other, 4–20 cm long, 15–80 mm wide, hairless, dark green, margins toothed, tips pointed. Flower heads 8–20 mm in diameter, with 70-80 white or pale purplish white florets. Flower heads below the 'petals' hemispherical. Flower heads in clusters. Flowering: November to May.
National Environmental Alert List. General Biosecurity Duty all NSW. General Biosecurity Duty with additional restrictions in Greater Sydney, and the Murray, Riverina, and South East areas, NSW. Pest plant ACT.
PlantNET description: http://plantnet.rbgsyd.nsw.gov.au/cgi-bin/NSWfl.pl?page=nswfl&lvl=sp&name=Gymnocoronis~spilanthoides (accessed 19 January, 2021)
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