Leaves form at the base of the plant, are of various sizes, overlap each other around the stem and lie flat near the ground. The flowering stem is leafless, except for the bracts beneath the flowers, which are small but attract pollinators.
Elephant’s foot flowers (Elephantopus tomentosus), in Canela National Forest, RS, 29°19’20.1″S 50°49’02.2″W, Feb 16, 2025.
Elephant’s foot (Elephantopus tomentosus), in the Canela National Forest, RS, 29°19’20.1″S 50°49’02.2″W, 16 Feb 2025. The leaves that form just above ground level tend to suffocate the growth of other plants and, as the leaves are very close to the ground, cutting them is difficult. (source).
Used in Asia, especially Malaysia, for the treatment of pain and inflammation (source; Yam et al. 2009).
It is not included in the list of quarantine pests absent from Brazill (SDA/MAPA, 2024).
PESTS: fungus Coleosporium elephantopodis (Schwein.) Thüm. 1878, rust (1, 2);
BIBLIOGRAFY (“source” has the direct link to the publication)
SDA/MAPA. PORTARIA SDA/MAPA No 1.205, DE 28 DE NOVEMBRO DE 2024. Available at: https://www.in.gov.br/en/web/dou/-/portaria-sda/mapa-n-1.205-de-28-de-novembro-de-2024-598829862. Accessed at: Feb 16, 2025.
Yam, M.F. et al., 2009. Anti-inflammatory and analgesic effects of Elephantopus tomentosus ethanolic extract. Journal of acupuncture and meridian studies, 2(4), pp.280–287. Available at: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/20633503/.