Seasonal Wild Flowers

Gallant-soldier

Galinsoga parviflora

Asteraceae

June to October

It is scattered in central and southern England and absent

from the North and Southwest.

See the BSBI distribution map for Gallant-soldier

It escaped from Kew Gardens in the 1860s and became

naturalised as a weed (Kew Weed) in gardens, on waste

ground and bare soils.

It is on the increase.

Gallant-soldier is a small, sprawling, annual herb growing

up to 75cm.

The flowerheads are small, less than 5mm across, with

5 white 3-lobed ray-florets and yellow disc-florets.

The leaves are opposite, pointed ovals, with small teeth

and white hairs.

Gallant-soldier is similar to, but not as hairy, as the

related Shaggy-soldier, Galinsoga quadriradiata.

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Gallant-soldier on 'brought in' topsoil on

Lancaster University campus

Yellow disc-florets and 3-lobed, white ray-florets

Upper leaves with short white hairs

Lower leaves and stem