Parthenium incanum

Parthenium incanum, with the common names mariola and New Mexico rubber plant, is a plant in the genus Parthenium of the family Asteraceae.^[2]

Parthenium incanum
Parthenium incanum growing in Walnut Canyon at Carlsbad Caverns National Park, New Mexico
Scientific classification
Kingdom:	Plantae
Clade:	Tracheophytes
Clade:	Angiosperms
Clade:	Eudicots
Clade:	Asterids
Order:	Asterales
Family:	Asteraceae
Genus:	Parthenium
Species:	P. incanum
Binomial name
Parthenium incanum Kunth[1]

The plant is native to North America, from the Southwestern United States through Northern, Central, and Southwestern Mexico.^[2] Habitats include desert grasslands including in the Chihuahuan Desert, on dry gravel slopes, and on plains.

Description

Parthenium incanum grows from 1.5–3 feet (0.46–0.91 m) in height and width. Its foliage is a pubescent grayish-white. Small white flower clusters appear from July to October.^[3]

Uses

Medicinal

The Jicarilla Apache used mariola as a traditional medicinal plant. It was prepared by boiling the plant's leaves, and the solution was then rubbed over a pregnant woman's abdomen to relieve discomfort.^[4][5]

Cultivation

Parthenium incanum is cultivated as an ornamental plant, for use in drought tolerant, native plant, and wildlife gardens.^[3][6]