Ageratum conyzoides (billygoat weed) profile

Ageratum conyzoides, also called billygoat weed, ranges from low altitudes to 2800 meters. Ageratum conyzoides grow on valley, hillside forest or forest edge, river or hillside grassland, field edge or wasteland. It is only cultivated in Zhejiang and Hebei.

Ageratum conyzoides picture

Morphological characteristics of Ageratum conyzoides

Rhizome

Ageratum conyzoides are annual herbs that grow 50-100 cm tall, sometimes less than 10 cm. Ageratum conyzoides have no obvious taproot. Stems are stout, base diameter 4 mm, or rarely slender, and base diameter less than 1 mm, unbranched or branched from base or from above middle, or lower base prostrate and nodal adventitious roots. Stems of Ageratum conyzoides are all reddish, or distally green, white dustlike pubescent or distally densely spread with long tomentose.

Leaf

The leaves of Ageratum conyzoides are opposite, sometimes alternate distally, often with axillary, undeveloped buds. Middle stem and leaves are ovate or elliptic or oblong, 3-8 cm long, 2-5 cm wide;Leaves tapered or small from middle leaf upward to downward and on axillary branchlets, ovate or oblong, sometimes entire leaves minuscule, only 1 cm long and 0.6 mm wide. All leaf base of Ageratum conyzoides is obtuse or broadly cuneate, basal veins 3 vein or not obvious five, apex acute, edge round blade, petiole 1-3 cm long, white sparsely pubescent on both surfaces and a yellow glandular dots, the hair along the veins of the leaf and above a bit more sometimes nearly glabrous below, upper leaf petioles or altar young twigs and altar in the lobule petiole are usually carried out by white dense long pilose.

Flowers

Ageratum conyzoides have 4-18 heads arranged in usually compact caymus at the top of the stem;Inflorescences 1.5 -- 3 cm in diameter, rarely arranged in a loose cymose. Pedicels of Ageratum conyzoides are 0.5-1.5 cm long, dust-bulb pubescent.Involucral bracts are campanulate or hemispherical, 5 mm wide. Involucral bracts are 2-ply, oblong or lanceolate oblong, 3-4 mm long, glabrous outside, margin lacerate. Corolla of Ageratum conyzoides is 1.5-2.5 mm, glabrous outside or dustlike puberly apically, cornice 5-lobed, lavender.

Fruit

Achenes of Ageratum conyzoides are dark brown, 5-rowed, 1.2-1.7 mm long, with white sparsely pilose hairs. Ageratum conyzoides have 5-6 crest diaphragm, oblong, apical acute narrow or tapering growing or short awn, or part of the apical diaphragms truncate without awn acuminate; The length of all coronoid lamellae is 1.5-3 mm.

Ageratum conyzoides are fruiting throughout the year.

Ecological habits of Ageratum conyzoides

Ageratum conyzoides like warm, sunny environments. The soil requirements are not strict. Ageratum conyzoides do not tolerate cold and do not grow well in extreme heat. Ageratum conyzoides are branching strong and resistant to pruning.

Growing methods of Ageratum conyzoides

Engraftment

Planting and potting the seedlings when they have 2-4 branches. 4 "flower pot plant 1 plant, pot soil with farm fertilizer, garden soil and fine sand each 1/3, mix and sieve. After seedlings of Ageratum conyzoides are planted, pot soil should be compacted, poured enough water, put in a cool place, 7-10 days later moved to the sun. At this time the basic slow seedling, normal growth began. Pay attention to water and fertilizer management, basin soil surface white see dry watering, watering to sufficient, can not water half of the water. Into the high temperature season, plant growth season, water 2 times a day. Every 10-15 days to pour 1 times dilute cake fertilizer water, and appropriate increase in phosphorus, potassium fertilizer. This can make the Ageratum conyzoides dwarfing colorful flowers, improving the ornamental value.

Trim

The flowering period of the Ageratum conyzoides is long. In order to keep the Ageratum conyzoides shape short and compact and the flowers beautiful, the thistle must be picked for many times, usually 3-4 times. To form a round plant form, the top of each branch can form a bud, flowering at the same time, so that the branches and leaves are lush, colorful flowers.

After the first batch of flowers, pruning should be done in time, general old branches are reserved 5-6 centimeters high, the upper part is cut off, and the dense branches have been cut. We need to ensure adequate moisture and fertilizer next, promote its germination of new branches, ability leaves green flowers fresh.

Humidity

Ageratum conyzoides like a wet or semi-dry climate environment, the relative temperature of the air in the growth environment is required to be 50 ~ 70%, the relative humidity of the air is too low at the lower part of the leaves yellowing, falling off, the upper leaves dull.

The temperature

Because Ageratum conyzoides are native to subtropical regions, it is very strict in winter temperature, and stops growing when the ambient temperature is below 8℃. The ability to adapt to light is strong. Put in indoor maintenance, as far as possible in the place with bright light, such as the living room with good daylighting, bedroom, study and other places. After indoor maintenance for a period of time (a month or so), it is necessary to move Ageratum conyzoides to the outdoor shade (winter heat preservation conditions) of the place for maintenance for a period of time (a month or so), so alternate.

Management

The Ageratum conyzoides are not cold resistant. Before the frost comes, Ageratum conyzoides should be moved indoors and put in a place with sufficient sunlight. The temperature at night should be above 5℃, and the temperature during the day should be 10℃-15℃, so Ageratum conyzoides can grow and blossom normally .Every 3-5 days water 1 times, every half a month water dilute cake fertilizer.

The propagation methods of Ageratum conyzoides

Seed propagation

Ageratum conyzoides seed is small, sowing requires careful work.In general, in early February in the greenhouse sowing, but also in early April in the open field sowing. Cultivation soil should be to farm fertilizer, garden soil half, mixed with a small amount of leaf rot soil, mixed evenly after screening. A small amount of seedlings can be used in a pot (a large number of seedlings can make a bed), will cultivate soil into the basin, after compaction pouring permeable, after waiting for water seepage, evenly spread seeds on wet soil. The soil should not be too thick to cover the seeds tightly. Keep the basin soil moist. The seedlings can emerge in about 10 days. Seedlings of Ageratum conyzoides were divided into 2 pairs of true leaves, with small plastic nutrition pots, each pot planted 1 plant.Herb thistle has small seeds and slow seedling growth.

Cutting propagation

For early forming and early flowering, cuttings can be used to raise seedlings of Ageratum conyzoides. Cuttage seedling to prepare a large mother plant, put in the greenhouse in winter, early spring to take strong branches, retain 2-4 true leaves, do not leave growing points. The branch length is 5-6 cm, the cutting mouth should be in the section, along with the cutting along with insert.Cuttage depth for cuttings length of 1/3-1/2. High temperature season, cuttings put in the shade to prevent high temperature and insolation. Root about 10 days, can divide seedlings. Cutting seedling in addition to winter low temperature, other growing seasons can be carried out, easy to survive.

Species taxonomy of Ageratum conyzoides

The common cultivated varieties of the Ageratum conyzoides are "Blue Danube" : low species, plant height 15 ~ 18 cm, blue purple flowers. "Hawaii" series: dense and tidy stems and leaves, plant height 15 cm, dark blue to red, pure white flowers and other colors. "Pacific" series: plant height 20 cm, deep blue purple flowers. "Pollen" : plant height 15 ~ 20 cm, pollen red.

Function and use of Ageratum conyzoides

Ageratum conyzoides garden use

The potted Ageratum conyzoides are used to decorate the terrace, balcony or roof garden.

Ageratum conyzoides are planted in flower beds, flower belts, planting grooves and lawn edges, with clear and bright landscape layers. Adorn the small courtyard, roadside, natural and elegant, rendering the breath of spring.

Ageratum conyzoides is a luxuriant plant with a simple and elegant color. Ageratum conyzoides are often used to decorate flower beds and ground covers, and can also be used for small courtyards, roadside and rocks. The low species can be potted for viewing, and the tall species can be used for cutting flowers in bottles or making flower baskets.

For flower beds, potted plants, ground covers, flower borders, decorated lawn and covering ground materials.

Ageratum conyzoides medicinal value

In the inhabitants of Africa, America, make clear heat and detoxify with Ageratum conyzoides whole grass and antiphlogistic stop to use. In South America, local residents have highly praised the use of the whole Ageratum conyzoides to treat women with non-uterine vaginal bleeding.

Flower language of Ageratum conyzoides

Thistle: "trust", "hope to be answered" and so on.