A couple old Phyla nodiflora specimens

Phyla nodiflora is one of the most aggressive plants I’ve encountered, I think quintupling in size in the few months we’ve had it. Jepson raises some questions about whether it’s actually native to California: “Note: Questionably native; variation in leaf margin, leaf hairiness may reflect multiple introductions from elsewhere, including South America.” The presenter in this video also wonders about the lack of California specific insects.

The Smithsonian has references to a couple specimens from the 1860s:

I wonder if there are any older records of it in California.


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