Dog Fennel

Overview

This species is native to North America. Introduce to Assam, Costa Rica, Cuba, Guatemala, Hawaii, Honduras, India, Myanmar, Nepal, New York, Nicaragua, Thailand, Venezuela, Vietnam. The name of the genus is derives from the Greek name for these herbaceous and shrubby plants in honour of the King of Pontus, Mithridates VI Eupator, 132-63 B.C., who allegedly found medicinal uses for some plants of the species Eupatorium.

Vernacular Names

Sneeze weed (English), Hinojo de sabana (Spanish), Adas anjing (Indonesia).

Agroecology

In pastures, roadsides, abandoned fields, and waste areas, E. capillifolium is a common weed. Dog fennel favors places that receive full light, but can be found in partial shade areas. In damp but well-drained soils, it is readily cultivated. Best in hot summer climates with some afternoon shade. Tolerates most forms of soil. Tolerates dry soils that are sandy. Plants have high tolerance to drought.

Morphology

• Roots - fibrous root.
• Stem - stiff, woody-based, often reddish, upright stems clad with crowded, feathery.
• Leaves - finely-dissected leaves which are pinnately divided into thread-like segments. Leaves are unpleasantly aromatic when crushed.
• Flowers - minute, greenish-white, somewhat ornamentally insignificant flowers bloom in late summer. The small, 3-5 flowered heads are numerous and arranged in large, leafy, pyramid-shaped end clusters (corymbs).
• Fruits - smooth achenes.

Cultivation

• Dog fennel can be propagated by seeds (generative propagation) and spreading rootstocks (vegetative propagation).
• Removal of individual plants will prove difficult because of its fibrous root system, and care must be taken to make sure that all roots are removed to avoid re-sprouting. Hand-removal of seedlings is successful before the creation of an extensive root system.

Chemical Constituents

Essential oils (camphene, limonene, terpinolene, myrcene, 2,5-dimethoxy-p-cymene), alkaloids, terpenoids, coumarin, flavons, tannins, quinones, saponins, steroids.

Traditional Medicinal Uses

Medicinal Uses

There are essential anti-inflammatory, antifungal, and insecticidal activities in this plant. Eupatorium purpureum has been mainly used to treat urinary tract infections and inflammation and as a diuretic.

Traditional Uses

Native Americans used infusions for the treatment of fever, cold, pneumonia, arthritic, and rheumatic pains.