coat buttons: Tridax procumbens (Asterales: Asteraceae): Invasive Plant Atlas of the United States

coat buttons	USDA PLANTS Symbol: TRPR5 U.S. Nativity: Exotic Habit: Forbs/Herbs Shrub or Subshrub
Tridax procumbens L.

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Taxonomic Rank: Magnoliopsida: Asterales: Asteraceae
Synonym(s): coatbuttons, cadillo chisaca, coat buttons, tridax
Appearance Tridax procumbens is a perennial herb that has a creeping stem which can reach from to 8-30 inches (20-75 cm) long. Foliage The leaves of Tridax procumbens are opposite, pinnate, oblong to ovate, and 1-2 inches (2.5-5 cm) long with cuneate bases, coarsely serrate margins, and acute apexes. Flowers Tridax procumbens flowers have white rays and yellow disk flowers. They are about 0.4-0.6 inches (1-1.5 cm) wide, and held on a 4-12 inches (10-30 cm) long stalk. Flowering occurs in spring. Fruit Fruits are achenes that are dark brown to black in color, oblong, and 0.08 inches (2 mm) long, each with a head of pappus bristles that vary from 0.12-0.24 inches (3-6 mm) long. Ecological Threat Tridax procumbens is listed as a Federal Noxious Weed. It prefers coarse-textured soils in more tropical locations. It invades roadsides, crops, waste land, and fallow land. It is native to Mexico and South America, but has become an invasive problem around the world.

Identification, Biology, Control and Management Resources

Federal Noxious Weed Disseminules of the U.S. - USDA-APHIS

Selected Images from Invasive.org

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Seed(s); Seeds Forest and Kim Starr, Starr Environmental, Bugwood.org Additional Resolutions & Image Usage	Plant(s); Habit Forest and Kim Starr, Starr Environmental, Bugwood.org Additional Resolutions & Image Usage	Plant(s); Habit Forest and Kim Starr, Starr Environmental, Bugwood.org Additional Resolutions & Image Usage	Plant(s); Voucher 060405 21 Forest and Kim Starr, Starr Environmental, Bugwood.org Additional Resolutions & Image Usage
Plant(s); USDA APHIS PPQ - Oxford, North Carolina , USDA APHIS PPQ, Bugwood.org Additional Resolutions & Image Usage	Foliage; Voucher 060405 21 Forest and Kim Starr, Starr Environmental, Bugwood.org Additional Resolutions & Image Usage	Foliage; Voucher 060405 21 Forest and Kim Starr, Starr Environmental, Bugwood.org Additional Resolutions & Image Usage	Flower(s); Voucher 060405 21 Forest and Kim Starr, Starr Environmental, Bugwood.org Additional Resolutions & Image Usage
Seed(s); Forest and Kim Starr, Starr Environmental, Bugwood.org Additional Resolutions & Image Usage	Seed(s); achenes 1.5-2.5 mm long X 0.5-1 mm in diameter and densely ascending pubescent; persistent pappus of ca. 20 plumose bristles; bristles of ray achenes 0.5-2 mm in length, bristles of disc achenes alternatly longer and shorter, 3.5-6 mm in length USDA APHIS Plant Protection and Quarantine , USDA APHIS PPQ, Bugwood.org Additional Resolutions & Image Usage	Seed(s); USDA APHIS Plant Protection and Quarantine , USDA APHIS PPQ, Bugwood.org Additional Resolutions & Image Usage	Fruit(s); Fruits with pappus attached. FNW taxon. Julia Scher, USDA APHIS PPQ, Bugwood.org Additional Resolutions & Image Usage

EDDMapS Distribution:
This map is incomplete and is based only on current site and county level reports made by experts and records obtained from USDA Plants Database. For more information, visit www.eddmaps.org

State List
This map identifies those states that list this species on their invasive species list or law.

Invasive Listing Sources: