Galinsoga (Galinsoga ciliata)

1. Galinsoga(Galinsoga ciliata) Family: Asteraceae - Means the aster family which was formerly called the composite family. Genus: Galinsoga - (gal-in-soga) In England this plant was called “gallant Soldier” in memory of Mariano Martinez Galinsoga, an 18th century Spanish doctor in Madrid, who was also a botanist. Species: ciliata - (sill-ee-ata) From the Latin cilium meaning eyelash indicating the leaves are fringed with hairs. Other common names include gallant soldier, hairy galinsoga, shaggy, quickweed soldier, quick weed, water weed and Macdonaldi.

2. Galinsoga Galinsoga is an annual which reproduces only by seed. In Altona Forest it is found east of the parking lot near Petticoat Creek. Galinsoga has young leaves which are opposite, oval to triangular coarsely-toothed, petiolated, and densely covered with hairs on the upper surface. Lower leaves have hairs that primarily occur on the veins. The stems are erect, which can be 60 cm high. They are freely- branched, green, occasionally with maroon-tinges and covered with hairs. The fruit is small, hairy, brown to black achene. The flowers are found in terminal stems or in the leaf axils.  They are less than 1 cm wide and consist of 4 to 5 white or pink, 3-toothed ray flowers and many yellow disk flowers in the centre.

3. Galinsoga or Quickweed The leaves are egg-shaped, large toothed with three main veins. The stems are hairy. The leaves also have hairs.

4. Galinsoga The flowers are small (about 1 cm or less across). The white flowers have 3-toothed rays and a yellow centre.

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