Parthenium hysterophorus

Parthenium hysterophorus is a herbaceous, flowering weed species in the family Asteraceae. It is one of the most common weeds across the globe. It is best known as Santa Maria feverfew, but is also referred to as Santa-Maria, whitetop weed, and famine weed. It is native to the American tropics but has since become an invasive species in East Asia, India, Australia, and parts of Africa. It has become infamous; it is considered one of the most noxious, harmful weeds species. It is known for its ability to reproduce quickly and abundantly, and prefers to grow in nutrient poor habitats. It is allelopathic, which poses several pros and cons that effect ecology. Many methods of control have been evaluated and implemented over time to best assess how to approach the conservation of this species and the ecosystems it affects.