Description

Sweetscent (Pluchea odorata) is an annual herb with a more-or-less hairy stem that may reach 1m in height, but may be much smaller. As the name implies, the entire plant has a camphor-like aroma and is somewhat sticky or greasy to the touch. The leaves are alternately arranged, lance-shaped to eggshaped, from 4-15cm in length and 1-7cm in width, stalkless or short-stalked at the base, pointed at the tip, often somewhat hairy on both surfaces, and usually toothed on the margin. The flowers, appearing from August to October, are pinkish to purple and are grouped in a cluster at the top of the stem.

Rank Justification

Critically imperiled in the nation or state because of extreme rarity (often 5 or fewer occurrences) or because of some factor(s) such as very steep declines making it especially vulnerable to extirpation from the state.

The PA Biological Survey (PABS) has assigned sweetscent a proposed rarity status of Endangered, but has concentrated on identifying locations where the species is occupying relatively natural habitats, and has given a lower conservation priority to populations inhabiting disturbed sites.