Elephantopus mollis

Elephantopus mollis, common names tobacco weed,^[2] and soft elephantsfoot,^[3] is a tropical species of flowering plant in the family Asteraceae.

Elephantopus mollis
Scientific classification
Kingdom:	Plantae
Clade:	Tracheophytes
Clade:	Angiosperms
Clade:	Eudicots
Clade:	Asterids
Order:	Asterales
Family:	Asteraceae
Genus:	Elephantopus
Species:	E. mollis
Binomial name
Elephantopus mollis Kunth
Synonyms[1]
Elephantopus cernuus Vell. Elephantopus hypomalacus S.F.Blake Elephantopus martii Graham Elephantopus pilosus Philip.

Elephantopus mollis is native to South America as far south as Jujuy Province in Argentina, as well as the West Indies, Central America, and Mexico as far north as Tamaulipas and Nuevo León.^{[4][5][6][7][8][9]} It is also naturalized in Australia, south-eastern Asia, some Pacific Islands, and tropical Africa.^[10][11] The species is considered a noxious weed some places.^[2][12]

Elephantopus mollis is a coarse perennial herb up to 20 cm (8 inches) tall. Leaves are dark green on the upper side, lighter green on the lower surface, oblanceolate to elliptical, up to 22 cm (9 inches) long. The plant produces arrays of small flower heads, each with only 4 white or pink florets.^[13]