Parthenium integrifolium (Wild Quinine)
| Also known as: | American Feverfew |
|---|---|
| Genus: | Parthenium |
| Family: | Asteraceae (Aster) |
| Life cycle: | perennial |
| Origin: | native |
| Status: |
|
| Habitat: | sun; dry to average moisture; remnant prairies, savannas, along railroads |
| Bloom season: | June - September |
| Plant height: | 1 to 3 feet |
| Wetland Indicator Status: | none |
| MN county distribution (click map to enlarge): |  |
| National distribution (click map to enlarge): |  |
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Detailed Information
Flower: 
![[photo of flowers]](/udata/r9ndp23q/pd/parthenium-integrifolium_7898072-7.jpg)
Compact, flat-topped branching clusters of short-stalked flowers at the top of the plant and arising from the top-most leaf axils. Flowers are white, ¼ to 1/3 inch across, with 5 (sometimes 6) short, widely spaced rays (petals) around a white, dome-shaped center disk, the disk flowers covered in short hairy scales. Dark brownish-black styles poke out from the ray and disk flowers. The bracts are pale green to white, short hairy on the outer surface. Flower stalks are also short-hairy.
Leaves and stems:
![[photo of stem leaves]](/udata/r9ndp23q/pd/parthenium-integrifolium_89028-8.jpg)
Leaves are generally lance to egg-shaped, coarsely toothed and crinkly or wavy around the edges, the surfaces mostly rough textured. Basal leaves are up to 12 inches long and 5 inches wide and have long stalks that are typically winged. The alternate stem leaves become smaller and shorter stalked as they ascend the stem, with the uppermost leaves stalkless and sometimes clasping. Stems are round or faintly ribbed, usually smooth on the lower plant and rough, short hairy in the upper, and unbranched except in the flower clusters.
Fruit:
![[photo of developing fruit]](/udata/r9ndp23q/white/parthenium-integrifolium-wild-quinine_0718_133259.jpg)
Flowers turn brown as fruit develops. Fruit is a black seed, without a tuft of hair at the top but sometimes with a few awns.
Notes:
Wild Quinine is easily identified by its flowers, which are pretty unique compared to other Minnesota species. While it may be found planted in parks and restored natural areas, Minnesota is on the northwest tip of its natural range and it's rarely found in the wild except along protected railroad rights of way and a few prairie and savanna remnants in the southeast counties. According to the DNR, it was listed as an Endangered species in 1984, largely due to habitat loss from agriculture.
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Map of native plant resources in the upper midwest
More photos
Wild Quinine plant
Wild Quinine plants
a trio of rare species: Wild Quinine, Rattlesnake Master, Sullivant's Milkweed
basal leaf clump
clasping leaf
Wild Quinine plant
Wild Quinine plants
a trio of rare species: Wild Quinine, Rattlesnake Master, Sullivant's Milkweed
basal leaf clump
clasping leafPhotos by K. Chayka and Peter M. Dziuk taken at Iron Horse Prairie, Dodge County.
Comments
Have you seen this plant in Minnesota, or have any other comments about it?
on: 2015-06-19 17:18:17
Plant fiting discription fully growing in this SNA
on: 2016-06-14 11:20:34
Many plants blooming now in my 2 acre restoration. It took over 5 years to bloom from when it was planted.
on: 2017-06-15 10:10:08
Wild Quinine can easily be found along the Shooting Star Trail, and Scenic By way, railroad prairie remnant.
on: 2017-10-13 14:51:52
One plant growing in a prairie restoration plot at UMN - St. Paul campus
on: 2019-08-08 22:11:14
Saw some blooming today in North Mississippi Regional Park in Minneapolis in a prairie restoration area.
on: 2019-08-18 10:41:29
Found a number of plants in Oxbow park.
on: 2019-09-01 07:05:52
Just a few plants along the equestrian trail east of Schulze Beach parking lot
on: 2020-09-05 19:47:05
I've never seen this plant before and identified it growing today on the prairie. I assume this was a restored naturalization.
on: 2021-06-23 22:03:30
Have 8 plants growing on our hillside behind our house that we did wildflower restoration on but did not intentionally seed.
on: 2023-06-30 08:35:12
I found one of these in my native pollinator garden.
on: 2023-07-13 19:15:03
A population was probably established in the late nineteen hundreds from seeds in prairie hay brought to a logging camp on my farm. The loggers cut hay for draft animals in several meadows close to the camp. Hundreds of plants persist, despite encroaching woody plants. We intend to cut brush this winter to maintain openings.
on: 2023-07-17 20:06:04
Found 1 individual in a restored prairie at the Mayo support center, near the Douglas Bike trail which is an abandoned railroad. There is also a substantial amount of glade mallow at this site. It is possible that this is from a seed mix but I unsure if they are grown commercially for seed
on: 2024-06-21 06:22:55
Very surprised to see this today just off the trail to the viewing area at the Salt Lake IBA in Lac Qui Parle County in far Western MN. Perhaps it found its way into a prairie restoration seed mix?
on: 2024-06-21 07:40:07
Lindsey, it was indeed highly likely introduced. The DNR is aware of wild quinine being readily available in the nursery trade as well as a component of restoration seed mixes and they are not very happy about it. It should be assumed whatever you see outside the southeast counties shown on the MN distribution map is not a wild, natural population.
on: 2024-08-18 11:38:53
I have this plant growing in a prairie planting in our front yard.