- ≡ Eupatorium purpureum L., Sp. Pl. 838 (1753)
- ≡ Eupatoriadelphus purpureus (L.) R.M.King & H.Rob. (1970)
Erect perennial herb, up to 3 m tall. Stems densely clothed in short eglandular hairs above, becoming almost glabrous below, tinged purple at least around nodes, branched above. Lvs in whorls of 3–4–(5); petiole glabrous to sparsely hairy, 15–35 mm long; lamina almost glabrous on upper surface, with sessile glands and hairy especially on veins on lower surface, ovate-lanceolate, acute to acuminate, serrate, 80–150 × 20–60 mm; uppermost lvs smaller. Capitula 2–5 mm diam., numerous in slightly convex terminal corymbs. Involucral bracts very unequal; inner bracts elliptic-oblong, sparsely ciliate but otherwise glabrous, 7–8 mm long; outer bracts sparsely hairy, from c. 1 mm long. Florets pink to purple. Achenes narrow-obpyramidal, brownish black, 4–5 mm long.
[From: Webb et al. (1985) Flora of New Zealand. Volume 4 as Eupatoriadelphus purpureus (L.) R.M.King & H.Rob.]