Wild Quinine, American Feverfew, Eastern Feverfew, Parthenium integrifolium L., Native Minnesota Wildflower plant, Eloise Butler Wildflower Garden

	Plants of the Eloise Butler Wildflower Garden
	Common Name	Scientific Name	Plant Family	Garden Location	Prime Season
	Wild Quinine	Parthenium integrifolium L.	Aster (Composite)	Upland	Early Summer
Other names and notes	(American Feverfew, Eastern Feverfew). A plant of 1 to 4 feet in height bearing white flowers in large branched clusters (umbels). The individual white flowers are small with 5 very small rays widely spaced around the circumference of the central disk. The flowers are fragrant and can be used as cut flowers. The upper leaves are toothed, lance shaped and appear stalkless as the touch the stem. The stem does not branch. The lower basal leaves are elliptical, up to 12 inches long with long stalks and rough surfaces. It grows best in full sun and in a wide range of soils as far north as Zone 3. Due to it's rare status, buy only nursery grown stock. The genus name comes from the Greek parthenos meaning "virgin" which refers to the central infertile disk of the flower. The species name is from the Latin for "entire leaved".


Above and below: The maturing flower clusters of mid to late July.		Above: The long basal leaves on long stalks.

	Below: The upper, to appearance, stalkless stem leaves.

Below: Detail of a single flower showing the position of the five rays.	Below: The structure of a typical flower umbel.

Notes: The date of appearance in the Garden is unclear. It was not listed on Martha Crone's 1951 Garden census, but was present by the time of the 1986 census. This plant is quite rare in Minnesota. It is known to be native (that is, collected in the wild) to only four counties in SE Minnesota - Fillmore, Houston, Mower and Dodge. Endangered: It is listed as "endangered" by the Minnesota DNR and is on the "threatened" list in Wisconsin. It's native range is generally east of the Mississippi River although it has been introduced into many western states. It has no serious pest problems and grows well from seeds which can be planted in the fall, or in the spring is given a cold stratification. Native Americans of the SE are known to have used the plant for medicinal purposes, particularly for treating burns.

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References: Plant characteristics are generally from sources 15, 16, 30, 31, 33, W2 & W3. Distribution principally from W2 and also 31, 34 and W1. Planting history generally from 1, 4 & 4a. Other sources by specific reference. See Reference List for details.

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