Eupatorium

{{Short description|Genus of plants}} {{For|the Crimean town|Eupatoria (disambiguation){{!}}Eupatoria}} {{Automatic taxobox |image = Taunus in Bad Homburg 2021-08-12 09.jpg |image_caption = ''Eupatorium cannabinum'' |display_parents = 2 |taxon = Eupatorium |authority = L. 1753 not Bubani 1899 (Rosaceae)<ref>{{tropicos|Eupatorium}}</ref> |synonyms_ref = <ref>[https://archive.today/20141123130650/http://dixon.iplantcollaborative.org/CompositaeWeb/default.aspx?Page=NameDetails&TabNum=0&NameId=adacbcf6-7341-4a54-a17c-c297cecc528d Flann, C (ed) 2009+ Global Compositae Checklist ]</ref> |synonyms = * ''Eupatorium'' sect. ''Pteropoda'' DC. * ''Eupatorium'' sect. ''Subimbricata'' Hoffm. * ''Viereckia'' R.M.King & H.Rob. * ''Chrone'' Dulac * ''Cunigunda'' Bubani * ''Pseudokyrsteniopsis'' R.M.King & H.Rob. * ''Eupatorium'' sect. ''Heterolepis'' Baker * ''Eriopappus'' Hort. ex Loudon * ''Caradesia'' Raf. * ''Eupatorium'' sect. ''Dalea'' Loudon * ''Halea'' L. * ''Eupatoriadelphus'' R.M.King & H.Rob. }}

'''''Eupatorium''''' is a genus of flowering plants in the family Asteraceae, containing from 36 to 60 species depending on the classification system. Most are herbaceous perennials growing to {{convert|0.5-3 |m|ft|abbr=on}} tall. A few are shrubs. The genus is native to temperate regions of the Northern Hemisphere. The type species of the genus ''Eupatorium cannabinum'', which is also the sole European species, is known as '''hemp-agrimony'''. Most in North America are commonly called '''boneset''', '''thoroughwort''' or '''snakeroot'''. The genus is named after Mithridates VI Eupator, king of Pontus.<ref>{{cite book|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=NJ6PyhVuecwC|title=The Names of Plants|first=David |last=Gledhill|edition=4|publisher=Cambridge University Press|isbn=978-0-521-86645-3|year=2008|page=159}}</ref>

==Systematics and taxonomy== ''Eupatorium'' has at times been held to contain as many as 800 species,{{sfn | Whittemore | 1987 }} but many of these have been moved (at least by some authors) to other genera, including ''Ageratina'', ''Chromolaena'', ''Condylidium'', ''Conoclinium'', ''Critonia'', ''Cronquistianthus'', ''Eutrochium'', ''Fleischmannia'', ''Flyriella'', ''Hebeclinium'', ''Koanophyllon'', ''Mikania'', and ''Tamaulipa''.<ref>{{cite journal |last1=King |first1=R. M. |last2=Robinson |first2=H. |year=1987 |title=The genera of Eupatorieae (Asteraceae) |journal=Monographs in Systematic Botany, Missouri Botanical Garden |volume=22 |pages=1–581}}</ref>

The classification of the tribe Eupatorieae, including species placed in ''Eupatorium'' in the present or past, is an area of ongoing research, so further changes are likely. What seems fairly certain by now is that there is a monophyletic group containing ''Eupatorium'' (about 42 species of white flowered plants in North America, Europe and Asia, but not South America) and the Joe-pye weeds (''Eutrochium''), and possibly others.{{sfn | Ito | Watanabe | Kita | Kawahara | 2000}}{{sfn|Schmidt |Schilling |2000}}

==Uses== ''Eupatorium'' are grown as ornamental plants, particularly in Asia.<ref name="yohei">{{cite journal|title=Study on ''Eupatorium'' Plants Called "Fujibakama"|first1=Sasaki |last1=Yohei|first2=Matsumoto |last2=Atsushi|first3=Takido |last3=Michio|first4=Yoshimura |last4=Mamoru|first5=Nagumo |last5=Seiji|journal=Japanese Journal of Pharmacognosy|issn=1349-9114|volume=60|issue=1|pages=15–20|year=2006|url=http://sciencelinks.jp/j-east/article/200612/000020061206A0368406.php|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080822025057/http://sciencelinks.jp/j-east/article/200612/000020061206A0368406.php|archive-date=2008-08-22}}</ref> A number of popular ornamental plants formerly included in ''Eupatorium'' have been moved to other genera, such as ''Bartlettina'' and ''Conoclinium''.

Tobacco leaf curl virus is a pathogen occasionally affecting plants of this genus. The foliage is eaten by some Lepidoptera larvae, including those of ''Orthonama obstipata'' (The Gem).

===Medical use=== The common names for the plants are all based on the previous usage of one species, ''Eupatorium perfoliatum'', as an herbal medicine. Despite its name, boneset is not used to treat broken bones,<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.herbs2000.com/herbs/herbs_boneset.htm|title=Boneset |website=herbs2000.com}}</ref>{{Unreliable source?|date=October 2014}} instead the common name apparently derives from the herb's use to treat dengue fever, which was also called breakbone fever because of the pain that it caused. The name thoroughwort also comes from ''Eupatorium perfoliatum'', and refers to the perfoliate leaves, in which the stem appears to pierce the leaf (i.e. go through, note that in older usage "thorough" was not distinguished from "through", compare for example the word thoroughfare).

Boneset, although poisonous to humans and grazing livestock, has been used in folk medicine,{{sfn | Sharma | Dawra | Kurade | Sharma | 1998}} for instance to excrete excess uric acid which causes gout. Caution is advised when using boneset, since it contains toxic compounds that can cause liver damage.{{Citation needed|date=October 2011}} Side effects include muscular tremors, weakness, and constipation; overdoses may be deadly.

===North America=== * ''Eupatorium album'' L.– white thoroughwort{{sfn|Schmidt | Schilling |2000}}<ref name=fna>{{efloras|1|112351|''Eupatorium''}}</ref> * ''Eupatorium altissimum'' L. – tall thoroughwort{{sfn|Schmidt | Schilling |2000}}<ref name=fna/> * ''Eupatorium anomalum'' Nash – Florida thoroughwort<ref name=fna/> an apomictic hybrid derivative of ''Eupatorium mohrii'' and ''Eupatorium rotundifolium''<ref name=systematics>{{cite journal|journal=Systematic Botany|volume=41|issue=3|pages=x–y|year=2016|title=Systematics of the ''Eupatorium mohrii'' Complex (Asteraceae).|author1=Edward E. Schilling|author2=Kunsiri Chaw Siripun|doi=10.1600/036364416X692361|s2cid=89429550}}</ref> * ''Eupatorium capillifolium'' (Lamarck) Small – dog-fennel{{sfn|Schmidt | Schilling |2000}}<ref name=fna/> * ''Eupatorium compositifolium'' Walter – Yankeeweed{{sfn|Schmidt | Schilling |2000}}<ref name=fna/> * ''Eupatorium godfreyanum'' Cronquist, an apomictic hybrid derivative of ''Eupatorium rotundifolium'' and ''Eupatorium sessilifolium''<ref>{{cite journal|journal=American Journal of Botany|volume=93|issue=2|pages=319–325 |year=2006|title=Molecular confirmation of the hybrid origin of ''Eupatorium gaurav Singh godfreyanum'' (Asteraceae)|author1=Kunsiri Chaw Siripun |author2=Edward E. Schilling|doi=10.3732/ajb.93.2.319|pmid=21646192|doi-access=}}</ref> * ''Eupatorium hyssopifolium'' L. – hyssop-leaved thoroughwort{{sfn|Schmidt | Schilling |2000}}<ref name=fna/> * ''Eupatorium lancifolium'' (Torrey & A.Gray) Small – lance-leaved thoroughwort{{sfn|Schmidt | Schilling |2000}}<ref name=fna/> * ''Eupatorium leptophyllum'' DC. – false fennel{{sfn|Schmidt | Schilling |2000}}<ref name=fna/> * ''Eupatorium leucolepis'' (DC.) Torrey & A.Gray – justiceweed{{sfn|Schmidt | Schilling |2000}}<ref name=fna/> * ''Eupatorium linearifolium'' Walter – (''Eupatorium cuneifolium''){{sfn|Schmidt | Schilling |2000}}<ref name=fna/> * ''Eupatorium maritimum'' E.E.Schill. – an apomictic hybrid derivative of ''Eupatorium mohrii'' and ''Eupatorium serotinum''<ref name=systematics/> * ''Eupatorium mikanioides'' Chapman – semaphore thoroughwort{{sfn|Schmidt | Schilling |2000}}<ref name=fna/> * ''Eupatorium mohrii'' Greene – Mohr's thoroughwort{{sfn|Schmidt | Schilling |2000}}<ref name=fna/> * ''Eupatorium novae-angliae'' (Fernald) V.I.Sullivan ex A.Haines & Sorrie <ref name=fna/> an apomictic hybrid derivative of ''Eupatorium paludicola'' and ''Eupatorium perfoliatum''<ref name=relationships>{{cite journal|doi=10.3119/0035-4902(2007)109[145:ROTNEB]2.0.CO;2|year=2007|volume=109|pages=145|title=Relationships Of The New England Boneset, ''Eupatorium Novae-Angliae'' (Asteraceae)|author=Schilling, Edward E.|journal=Rhodora|last2=Leblond|first2=Richard J.|last3=Sorrie|first3=Bruce A.|last4=Weakley|first4=Alan S.|issn=0035-4902|issue=938|s2cid=86020312}}</ref> * ''Eupatorium paludicola'' E.E.Schill. & LeBlond – swamp thoroughwort, until 2007 classified as part of ''Eupatorium leucolepis''<ref name=relationships/> * ''Eupatorium perfoliatum'' L. – common boneset{{sfn|Schmidt | Schilling |2000}}<ref name=fna/> * ''Eupatorium petaloideum'' Britton – showy white thoroughwort, often considered to be part of ''Eupatorium album''<ref name=fna/> * ''Eupatorium pilosum'' Walter – rough boneset, often considered to be part of ''Eupatorium rotundifolium''<ref name=fna/> * ''Eupatorium resinosum'' Torrey ex DC. – pine barren boneset{{sfn|Schmidt | Schilling |2000}}<ref name=fna/><ref>{{cite journal|title=Effect of cross proximity on progeny fitness in a rare and a common species of ''Eupatorium'' (Asteraceae)|author=DL Byers|journal=American Journal of Botany|volume=85|pages=644–653|year=1998|doi=10.2307/2446533|issue=5|jstor=2446533|pmid=21684945|doi-access=free}}</ref> * ''Eupatorium rotundifolium'' L. – round-leaved thoroughwort{{sfn|Schmidt | Schilling |2000}}<ref name=fna/> * ''Eupatorium semiserratum'' DC. – smallflower thoroughwort{{sfn|Schmidt | Schilling |2000}}<ref name=fna/> * ''Eupatorium serotinum'' L. – late boneset, late thoroughwort{{sfn|Schmidt | Schilling |2000}}<ref name=fna/> * ''Eupatorium sessilifolium'' L. – upland boneset{{sfn|Schmidt | Schilling |2000}}<ref name=fna/> * ''Eupatorium sullivaniae'' E.E.Schill. – an apomictic hybrid derivative of ''Eupatorium album'' and ''Eupatorium lancifolium''<ref>{{cite journal|journal=Systematic Botany|volume=36|issue=4|pages=1088–1100|year=2011|title=Systematics of the ''Eupatorium album'' complex (Asteraceae) from eastern North America.|author=Edward E. Schilling|doi=10.1600/036364411X605083|s2cid=86157020}}</ref>

===Europe=== * ''Eupatorium cannabinum'' L. – hemp-agrimony{{sfn|Schmidt | Schilling |2000}}<ref name="PlantAtlas">{{cite web | title=Hemp-agrimony ''Eupatorium cannabinum'' L. | website=PlantAtlas | url=https://plantatlas2020.org/atlas/2cd4p9h.xwb | access-date=2025-08-15}}</ref>

===Asia=== [[File:Eupatorium makinoi2.jpg|thumb|right|''Eupatorium makinoi'']] * ''Eupatorium amabile'' Kitam.{{sfn|Schmidt | Schilling |2000}}<ref name=taiwan>{{efloras|100|112351}}</ref> * ''Eupatorium benguetense'' C.Robinson{{sfn|Schmidt | Schilling |2000}} * ''Eupatorium camiguinense'' Merr.{{sfn|Schmidt | Schilling |2000}} * ''Eupatorium chinense'' L.{{sfn|Schmidt | Schilling |2000}}<ref name=taiwan/> * ''Eupatorium formosanum'' Hayata{{sfn|Schmidt | Schilling |2000}}<ref name=taiwan/> * ''Eupatorium fortunei'' Turcz. – ''fujibakama'', ''pei lan''{{sfn|Schmidt | Schilling |2000}} * ''Eupatorium japonicum'' Thunb.<ref name=dinghushan>{{cite web|url=http://www.efloras.org/florataxon.aspx?flora_id=620&taxon_id=112351|title=''Eupatorium'' Linn.|work=Dinghushan Plant Checklist}}</ref> (often included in ''E. chinense''<ref name="china">{{cite web|url=http://flora.huh.harvard.edu/china/mss/volume21/Asteraceae-AGH-Eupatorieae_coauthoring.htm|title=Asteraceae Tribe Eupatorieae (Draft)|work=Flora of China|access-date=2009-12-01|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090714220309/http://flora.huh.harvard.edu/china/mss/volume21/Asteraceae-AGH-Eupatorieae_coauthoring.htm|archive-date=2009-07-14}}</ref>) * ''Eupatorium leonardii'' Ferreras & E.E.Lamont|<ref>{{cite journal|journal=Brittonia|volume=64|pages=368–373|year=2012|title= A new species of “Eupatorium” (Asteraceae) from the Philippines|first1=E.E |last1=Lamont|first2=U.F. |last2=Ferreras|doi=10.1007/s12228-012-9249-x }}</ref> * ''Eupatorium lindleyanum'' DC.{{sfn|Schmidt | Schilling |2000}}<ref name=taiwan/> * ''Eupatorium luchuense'' Nakai{{sfn|Schmidt | Schilling |2000}}<ref name=taiwan/> * ''Eupatorium makinoi'' T.Kawahara & T.Yahara (see ''E. chinense''<ref name=china/>) * ''Eupatorium nodiflorum'' DC.{{sfn|Schmidt | Schilling |2000}} * ''Eupatorium quaternum'' DC.{{sfn|Schmidt | Schilling |2000}} * ''Eupatorium sambucifolium'' Elmer{{sfn|Schmidt | Schilling |2000}} * ''Eupatorium shimadai'' Kitam.{{sfn|Schmidt | Schilling |2000}} * ''Eupatorium squamosum'' D.Don{{sfn|Schmidt | Schilling |2000}} * ''Eupatorium tashiroi'' Hayata{{sfn|Schmidt | Schilling |2000}}<ref name=taiwan/> * ''Eupatorium toppingianum'' Elmer{{sfn|Schmidt | Schilling |2000}} * ''Eupatorium variabile'' Makino{{sfn|Schmidt | Schilling |2000}} * ''Eupatorium yakushimaense'' Masam. & Kitam{{sfn|Schmidt | Schilling |2000}}

=== Moved to other genera === * ''Eupatorium adamantium'' Gardner (moved to ''Koanophyllon'') * ''Eupatorium amygdalinum'' (moved to ''Ayapana'') * ''Eupatorium ayapana'' – aya-pana, water hemp (moved to ''Ayapana triplinervis'') * ''Eupatorium bracteatum'' Gardn. (moved to ''Stomatanthes, S. pernambucensis'')  * ''Eupatorium coelestinum'' – mistflower (moved to ''Conoclinium'') * ''Eupatorium collinum'' (moved to ''Chromolaena collina'')<ref>{{cite web|url=http://nomen.at/Eupatorium%20collinum|work=nomen.at|title=''Eupatorium collinum''}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.henriettesherbal.com/plants/eupatorium/collinum.html|title=''Eupatorium collinum''|work=Henriette's Herbal}}</ref> * ''Eupatorium itatiayense'' Hieron. (moved to ''Symphyopappus'') * ''Eupatorium gayanum'' (moved to ''Aristeguietia gayana''<ref>{{cite POWO |id=100004-2 |title=''Eupatorium gayanum'' Wedd. |access-date=22 May 2025}}</ref>) * ''Eupatorium laevigatum'' DC. (moved to ''Chromolaena'') * ''Eupatorium ligustrinum'' (moved to ''Ageratina ligustrina''<ref>{{GRIN | ''Eupatorium ligustrinum'' | 16323 | access-date=14 December 2017}}</ref>) * ''Eupatorium maculatum'' (moved to ''Eutrochium maculatum'') Joe-Pye weed * ''Eupatorium maximiliani'' Schrad. ex DC. (moved to ''Chromolaena'') * ''Eupatorium megalophyllum'' (moved to ''Bartlettina sordida'') * ''Eupatorium officinale'' (moved to ''Mikania'') * ''Eupatorium pacificum'' (moved to ''Ageratina'') * ''Eupatorium purpureum'' (moved to ''Eutrochium purpureum'') * ''Eupatorium pyrifolium'' DC. (moved to ''Steyermarkina'') * ''Eupatorium rufescens'' P.W.Lund. ex DC. (moved to ''Kaunia'') * ''Eupatorium rugosum'' (moved to ''Ageratina altissima'') * ''Eupatorium sordidum'' (moved to ''Bartlettina sordida'')<ref>{{PLANTS|symbol=EUSO3|taxon=Eupatorium sordidum}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://floraseries.landcareresearch.co.nz/pages/Taxon.aspx?id=_f92c08e2-69f9-4e39-b75a-af571c21abbb&fileName=Flora%204.xml|title=''B. sordida''|work=Flora of New Zealand|author1=Webb, C.J.|author2=Sykes, W.R.|author3=Garnock-Jones, P.J.|date=June 2004 |edition=First electronic |publisher=Landcare Research |access-date=2008-01-28}}</ref> * ''Eupatorium squalidum'' DC. (moved to ''Chromolaena'') * ''Eupatorium urticaefolium'' (moved to ''Ageratina'', synonym of ''A. altissima'') * ''Eupatorium vauthierianum'' DC. (moved to ''Heterocondylus alatus'')

== References == {{Reflist}}

== Bibliography == * {{cite encyclopedia |last=Hatfield |first=Gabrielle |year=2004 |title= Encyclopedia of Folk Medicine: Old World and New World Traditions |publisher=ABC-CLIO, Inc. |location=Santa Barbara |isbn=1-57607-874-4}} * {{cite journal | last1=Ito | first1=Motomi | last2=Watanabe | first2=Kuniaki | last3=Kita | first3=Yoko | last4=Kawahara | first4=Takayuki | last5=Crawford | first5=Dj | last6=Yahara | first6=Tetsukazu |year=2000 |title=Phylogeny and Phytogeography of ''Eupatorium'' (Eupatorieae, Asteraceae): Insights from Sequence Data of the nrDNA ITS Regions and cpDNA RFLP |journal=Journal of Plant Research |volume=113 |issue=1| pages=79–89 |doi=10.1007/PL00013913 | bibcode=2000JPlR..113...79I |s2cid=22540433}} * {{cite book |last=Lamont |first=E.E. |year=1995 |title=Taxonomy of ''Eupatorium'' Section ''Verticillata'' (Asteraceae) |publisher=New York Botanical Garden Press |isbn=0-89327-391-0}} * {{cite encyclopedia |last=Longe |first=Jacqueline L. |year=2005 |title=The Gale Encyclopedia of Alternative Medicine |edition=2nd |volume=1 |publisher=Gale Group |location=New York |isbn=0-7876-7424-9}} *{{cite journal |pmid=10811796 |volume=87 |issue=5 |title=Phylogeny and biogeography of ''Eupatorium'' (Asteraceae: Eupatorieae) based on nuclear ITS sequence data |date=May 2000 |journal=Am. J. Bot. |pages=716–26 | last1=Schmidt | first1=Gregory J. | last2=Schilling | first2=Edward E. |doi=10.2307/2656858 |jstor=2656858 |doi-access=free}} * {{cite journal | last1=Sharma | first1=Om P. | last2=Dawra | first2=Rajinder K. | last3=Kurade | first3=Nitin P. | last4=Sharma | first4=Pritam D. |year=1998 |title=A review of the toxicosis and biological properties of the genus ''Eupatorium'' |journal=Natural Toxins |volume=6 |issue=1| pages=1–14 |doi=10.1002/(SICI)1522-7189(199802)6:1<1::AID-NT3>3.0.CO;2-E |pmid=9851506}} * {{cite journal | last=Whittemore | first=Alan |year=1987 |title=The Sectional Nomenclature of ''Eupatorium'' (Asteraceae) |journal=Taxon |volume=36 |issue=3| pages=618–620 |doi=10.2307/1221856 |jstor=1221856}} * {{Commons category-inline}} * {{Wikispecies-inline}}

Category:Eupatorium Category:Medicinal plants Category:Asteraceae genera Category:Botanical taxa named by Carl Linnaeus Category:Dioecious plants