Purple cudweed, Purple everlasting
Gamochaeta purpurea

Family: Asteraceae

What it is like

A herb. It can grow from seed each year or keep growing from year to year. It grows 10-40 cm tall. The leaves at the base are in rings. They are 1-6 cm long by 1 cm wide. The higher leaves are smaller. They are whitish underneath.

There are about 200 Gnaphalium species.

Where it is found

It is a temperate plant. It grows at low elevations in Taiwan. In Argentina it grows from sea level to 800 m above sea level Tasmania Herbarium.

Countries/locations it is found in

Argentina, Asia, Australia, Brazil, Canada, China, Dominican Republic, Easter Island, Europe, Hawaii, India, Korea, North America, Northeastern India, Pacific, Paraguay, South America (country/location of origin), Taiwan, Tasmania, Uruguay, USA, West Indies

How it is used for food

The plants are boiled and eaten. Caution: In soils with high nitrogen levels it can cause nitrate/nitrite poisoning.

Edible parts

Leaves

How it is grown

Its other names

Local names

Tecep

Synonyms

Gamochaeta rosacea (I. M. Johnst.) Anderb.; Gamochaeta ustulata (Nutt.) Holub.; Gnaphalium chinense Gand.; Gnaphalium coarctatum Willd.; Gnaphalium columbianum Hieron.; Gnaphalium hyemale Walter; Gnaphalium littorale Banks & Sol. ex Hook.f.; Gnaphalium obtusifolium Willd. ex Spreng.; Gnaphalium pannosum Gand.; Gnaphalium pensylvanicum Willd.; Gnaphalium purpureum L.;