Vernonanthura patens

Native from Mexico through Central America to Bolivia and Brazil, this shrub or small tree belongs to the daisy family and can reach about 13 feet tall. Its elongated, leathery leaves have hairy undersides. Branching clusters carry many small, fragrant flower heads made entirely of tubular florets. The flowers are usually white but can turn reddish purple after pollination. The dry fruits carry whitish bristles. It grows beside roads and streams and in secondary forests; in Colombia, it occurs from sea level to about 6,900 feet. In Ecuador, its leaves are traditionally used to wash wounds. Photographed in Colombia.