Scientific Family
Asteraceae
Synonyms
Stevia macella, Stevia tenella
Plant type
Forbs and Subshrubs
Origin
Native
Lifecycle
Annual
Height
5 to 16 inches tall
Riparian
No
Small herb with a very small cluster of 5 tiny white ray flowers. The flower heads are <1/4 inch across. The achenes (fruits) have 3 bare bristles.
Annual, all other Stevias are perennial; leaves mostly opposite (alternate up the stem); flowers white, 5 petals, sparsely hairy, in open, lax, somewhat rounded cluster, flower stems glandular; sepals glandular, pointed at tips.
Habitat
Grassy openings, damp and shady, oak, oak-walnut, oak-pine, and pinyon pine-ponderosa pine woodlands.
Plant Community
Pinyon Juniper Woodlands
Montane Conifer Forest
Low elevation
5900
High elevation
8800
Flower Characteristics
Small 5-flowered heads, stalks up to 1/4 inch long and glandular, sparsely hairy; sepals glandular.
Flower color
White, whitish
Flower shape
Regular
Tubular
Yes
First bloom month
August
Last bloom month
October
Flower clusters
Rounded
Leaf and Stem Characteristics
Leaves mostly opposite, upper leaves can be alternate, margins notched or toothed on the edge, oval to a narrow triangle in shape; sepals glandular with pointed tips.
Leaf type
Simple
Leaf color
Green
Leaf shape
Triangular
Leaf margin
Toothed
Leaves clasp
No
Leaf hairs
None
Spines
No
Fruit and Seed Characteristics
3 bare bristles on top of the seeds. The bristles surpass the petals.
Fruit type
Achene
Fruit color
Black