Eupatorium
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Eupatorium is a genus of flowering plants, depending on the classification system containing from 36 to 60 species, most of which are herbaceous perennial plants growing to 0.5-3 m tall, but a few are shrubs. The genus is native to temperate regions of the Northern Hemisphere.
They are very poisonous plants. Species of Eupatorium have been used in folk medicine, for instance to excrete excess uric acid which causes gout, but they also contain toxic compounds that can cause liver damage.
Eupatorium species are used as food plants by the larvae of some Lepidoptera species including Bucculatrix eupatoriella (which feeds exclusively on Eupatorium perfoliatum), The V-pug, Wormwood Pug and the Coleophora case-bearers C. follicularis, C. trochilella and C. troglodytella.
A few species or cultivars, such as E. sordidum and E. coelestinum 'Album', are sometimes used as ornamental plants. In particular, they are used for structural or background plantings or to attract butterflies.
- Selected species
- Eupatorium album
- Eupatorium altissimum (Tall Thoroughwort)
- Eupatorium cannabinum (Hemp-agrimony)
- Eupatorium capillifolium (Dogfennel)
- Eupatorium chinense
- Eupatorium dubium
- Eupatorium fistulosum (Joe-Pye Weed)
- Eupatorium hyssopifolium
- Eupatorium lindleyanum
- Eupatorium maculatum
- Eupatorium perfoliatum (Boneset or Thoroughwort)
- Eupatorium purpureum
- Eupatorium sessilifolium
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