Herbaceous perennial; stems minutely hairy; leaves oblong to lancelike, opposite, toothed, and not stemmed; Flowers organized as a large-rounded cluster made up of smaller, 5-flowered clusters; petals white to purple.
Differentiate from Stevia serrata by the few, opposite leaves. Herbage slightly hairy; leaves stemless, ellipitical to oblong to lance-like, network of veins lower surface; flower heads of small white to purple flowers., bracts with glandular.
Habitat
Found in rich soil in canyons.
Flower Characteristics
Flowers star-shaped (5-petaled) in 5-flowered clusters that are then organized into larger clusters. Flowers open from the edge of clusters inward.
Leaf and Stem Characteristics
Leaves without stems, oblong and toothed with minute hairs, twice as long as wide (less than 1/2 inch to 1 inch); stems to 16 inches, minutely hairy.
Fruit and Seed Characteristics
Fruit has hairy ridges, topped with an irregularly cleft crown of thin, membranous scales.