Achyrocline alata

Native to South America, from Colombia and Ecuador south to Argentina and Uruguay, this woolly herb or small subshrub grows in damp grasslands, marshes and other open habitats. Its leaves extend down the stems to form narrow wings, a useful distinguishing feature. Dense clusters of small flowerheads have yellowish, papery bracts surrounding their tiny flowers. In the La Libertad region of Peru, it grows between about 7,500 and 12,800 feet. Its leaves and flowering shoots have a history of traditional medicinal use in the Andes. Photographed in Ecuador.