PlantFiles: Mexican Devil-Weed
Aster spinosus

Mexican Devil-Weed Aster spinosus is native to texas and other States.

Mexican devil-weed (Chloracantha spinosa, formerly Aster spinosus) is a native much branched perennial that is almost leafless. It is occassionally spiny along its evergreen stems. It can form hedge-like thickets along the banks of irrigation ditches, bottomlands, depressions, in alkaline valley soils and in moist saline soil along river bottoms, pastures, and low places, It also is found growing with cultivated crops, including soybean, cotton, alfalfa and small grain. The scale-like but green upper leaves and fall off quickly. The lower leaves, which are also few, are very slender. The 1/3 to 1/2 inch high flower heads are 1/2 to 3/4 inch across. The center of the head is yellow or brownish. It blooms from April to October, but primarily in late summer and fall. Propagation is by seeds and by widespreading creeping rhizomes.

Previously, it was placed in the genera Aster, Erigon and Leucosyris; but, most recently it has been given a genus name all its own. The genus name is derived from chlora meaning "green" (because its evergreen) and acanthos meaning thorn or spine (may have spines along the stems).