Taxon: Centrapalus pauciflorus (Willd.) H. Rob.

Summary

Genus:

Centrapalus

Family:

Asteraceae (alt. Compositae)

Subfamily:

Cichorioideae

Tribe:

Vernonieae

Subtribe:

Centrapalinae

Nomen number:

462428

Place of publication:

Proc. Biol. Soc. Washington 112:236. 1999

Verified:

01/21/2011 ARS Systematic Botanists.

Accessions:

13 (13 active, 6 available) in National Plant Germplasm System. (Map it)

Other conspecific taxa

Centrapalus pauciflorus (Willd.) H. Rob. subsp. afromontana ined. (8 active accession[s])
Centrapalus pauciflorus (Willd.) H. Rob. subsp. filisquama ined. (0 active accession[s])
Centrapalus pauciflorus (Willd.) H. Rob. subsp. gibbosa ined. (3 active accession[s])
Centrapalus pauciflorus (Willd.) H. Rob. subsp. lushotoensis ined. (4 active accession[s])
Centrapalus pauciflorus (Willd.) H. Rob. subsp. mutomoensis ined. (2 active accession[s])
Centrapalus pauciflorus (Willd.) H. Rob. subsp. nairobiensis ined. (5 active accession[s])
Centrapalus pauciflorus (Willd.) H. Rob. subsp. pauciflorus var. australis ined. (18 active accession[s])
Centrapalus pauciflorus (Willd.) H. Rob. subsp. pauciflorus var. ethiopica ined. (0 active accession[s])
Centrapalus pauciflorus (Willd.) H. Rob. subsp. pauciflorus var. pauciflorus (7 active accession[s])
Centrapalus pauciflorus (Willd.) H. Rob. subsp. pauciflorus var. petitiana ined. (5 active accession[s])

Autonyms (not in current use), synonyms and invalid designations

Basionym
Conyza pauciflora Willd.

Homotypic Synonym(s)
Vernonia pauciflora (Willd.) Less.

Heterotypic Synonym(s)
Centrapalus galamensis Cass.
Vernonia galamensis (Cass.) Less.

No images

Conservation Status

Reference(s)

PROTABASE, the information base of PROTA (Plant Resources of Tropical Africa) (on-line resource). Note: = Vernonia galamensis (Cass.) Less.
Baye, T. & H. C. Becker. 2005. Exploration of Vernonia galamensis in Ethiopia, and variation in fatty acid composition of seed oil. Genet. Resources Crop Evol. 52:806. Note: mentions; = Vernonia galamensis (Cass.) Less.
Baye, T. & H. C. Becker. 2005. Genetic variability and interrelationship of traits in the industrial oil crop Vernonia galamensis. Euphytica 142:120. Note: mentions; = Vernonia galamensis (Cass.) Less.
Mideksa, A. et al. 2019. Centrapalus pauciflorus (Willd.) H. Rob. neglected potential oil crop of Ethiopia, agro-morphological characterization. Genet. Resources Crop Evol. 66:545-554. DOI: 10.1007/s10722-018-0719-1.
Perdue, R. E. et al. 1986. Vernonia galamensis, potential new crop source of epoxy acid. Econ. Bot. 40:54-68. DOI: 10.1007/BF02858947. Note: as Vernonia galamensis (Cass.) Less. cultivated in Kenya
Robinson, H. & J. J. Skvarla. 2010. The restoration of the genus Vernonella Sond. (Vernonieae: Asteraceae). Proc. Biol. Soc. Washington 123:187. Note: mentions
Robinson, H. 1999. Revisions in paleotropical Vernonieae (Asteraceae). Proc. Biol. Soc. Washington 112:220-247.
Shimelis, H. A. et al. 2013. Principal agronomic and seed oil traits in the industrial oil crop vernonia (Centrapalus pauciflorus var.ethiopica). S. African J. Pl. Soil 30:131-137. DOI: 10.1080/02571862.2013.843030. Note: Centrapalus pauciflorus (discussing C. pauciflorus var. ethiopica) seeds contain high amounts of fatty acids considered environmentally friendly

Common names

Language	Name	Alternate name	note	seq	Citation
English	ironweed		as Vernonia galamensis	1	PROTABASE, the information base of PROTA (Plant Resources of Tropical Africa) (on-line resource). Note: as Vernonia galamensis
English	vernonia		as Vernonia galamensis	1	Markle, G. M. et al., eds. 1998. Food and feed crops of the United States, ed. 2 Note: as Vernonia galamensis

Distribution

order_code	Status	Continent	Subcontinent	Country	Reference
1	Native	Africa	East Tropical Africa	Kenya	Gilbert, M. G. 1986. Notes on East African Vernonieae (Compositae): a revision of the Vernonia galamensis complex. Notes on East African Vernonieae (Compositae) 4. Kew Bull. 41:20.
1	Native	Africa	East Tropical Africa	Tanzania	Gilbert, M. G. 1986. Notes on East African Vernonieae (Compositae): a revision of the Vernonia galamensis complex. Notes on East African Vernonieae (Compositae) 4. Kew Bull. 41:20.
1	Native	Africa	East Tropical Africa	Uganda	Gilbert, M. G. 1986. Notes on East African Vernonieae (Compositae): a revision of the Vernonia galamensis complex. Notes on East African Vernonieae (Compositae) 4. Kew Bull. 41:20.
1	Native	Africa	Macaronesia	Cabo Verde	PROTABASE, the information base of PROTA (Plant Resources of Tropical Africa) (on-line resource).
1	Native	Africa	Northeast Tropical Africa	Chad	PROTABASE, the information base of PROTA (Plant Resources of Tropical Africa) (on-line resource).
1	Native	Africa	Northeast Tropical Africa	Eritrea	Hedberg, I. & S. Edwards. 1989-. Flora of Ethiopia Note: Eritrea added in 2000
1	Native	Africa	Northeast Tropical Africa	Ethiopia	Hedberg, I. & S. Edwards. 1989-. Flora of Ethiopia Note: Eritrea added in 2000
1	Native	Africa	Northeast Tropical Africa	Somalia	Gilbert, M. G. 1986. Notes on East African Vernonieae (Compositae): a revision of the Vernonia galamensis complex. Notes on East African Vernonieae (Compositae) 4. Kew Bull. 41:20.
1	Native	Africa	Northeast Tropical Africa	Sudan	Gilbert, M. G. 1986. Notes on East African Vernonieae (Compositae): a revision of the Vernonia galamensis complex. Notes on East African Vernonieae (Compositae) 4. Kew Bull. 41:20.
1	Native	Africa	South Tropical Africa	Malawi	Gilbert, M. G. 1986. Notes on East African Vernonieae (Compositae): a revision of the Vernonia galamensis complex. Notes on East African Vernonieae (Compositae) 4. Kew Bull. 41:20.
1	Native	Africa	South Tropical Africa	Mozambique	Gilbert, M. G. 1986. Notes on East African Vernonieae (Compositae): a revision of the Vernonia galamensis complex. Notes on East African Vernonieae (Compositae) 4. Kew Bull. 41:20.
1	Native	Africa	South Tropical Africa	Zimbabwe	Gilbert, M. G. 1986. Notes on East African Vernonieae (Compositae): a revision of the Vernonia galamensis complex. Notes on East African Vernonieae (Compositae) 4. Kew Bull. 41:20.
1	Native	Africa	West Tropical Africa	Benin	Gilbert, M. G. 1986. Notes on East African Vernonieae (Compositae): a revision of the Vernonia galamensis complex. Notes on East African Vernonieae (Compositae) 4. Kew Bull. 41:20.
1	Native	Africa	West Tropical Africa	Côte D'Ivoire	PROTABASE, the information base of PROTA (Plant Resources of Tropical Africa) (on-line resource).
1	Native	Africa	West Tropical Africa	Gambia	Gilbert, M. G. 1986. Notes on East African Vernonieae (Compositae): a revision of the Vernonia galamensis complex. Notes on East African Vernonieae (Compositae) 4. Kew Bull. 41:20.
1	Native	Africa	West Tropical Africa	Ghana	Gilbert, M. G. 1986. Notes on East African Vernonieae (Compositae): a revision of the Vernonia galamensis complex. Notes on East African Vernonieae (Compositae) 4. Kew Bull. 41:20.
1	Native	Africa	West Tropical Africa	Guinea	Gilbert, M. G. 1986. Notes on East African Vernonieae (Compositae): a revision of the Vernonia galamensis complex. Notes on East African Vernonieae (Compositae) 4. Kew Bull. 41:20.
1	Native	Africa	West Tropical Africa	Guinea-Bissau	Gilbert, M. G. 1986. Notes on East African Vernonieae (Compositae): a revision of the Vernonia galamensis complex. Notes on East African Vernonieae (Compositae) 4. Kew Bull. 41:20.
1	Native	Africa	West Tropical Africa	Mali	Gilbert, M. G. 1986. Notes on East African Vernonieae (Compositae): a revision of the Vernonia galamensis complex. Notes on East African Vernonieae (Compositae) 4. Kew Bull. 41:20.
1	Native	Africa	West Tropical Africa	Niger	Gilbert, M. G. 1986. Notes on East African Vernonieae (Compositae): a revision of the Vernonia galamensis complex. Notes on East African Vernonieae (Compositae) 4. Kew Bull. 41:20.
1	Native	Africa	West Tropical Africa	Nigeria	Gilbert, M. G. 1986. Notes on East African Vernonieae (Compositae): a revision of the Vernonia galamensis complex. Notes on East African Vernonieae (Compositae) 4. Kew Bull. 41:20.
1	Native	Africa	West Tropical Africa	Senegal	Gilbert, M. G. 1986. Notes on East African Vernonieae (Compositae): a revision of the Vernonia galamensis complex. Notes on East African Vernonieae (Compositae) 4. Kew Bull. 41:20.
1	Native	Africa	West Tropical Africa	Sierra Leone	PROTABASE, the information base of PROTA (Plant Resources of Tropical Africa) (on-line resource).
1	Native	Africa	West-Central Tropical Africa	Cameroon	Gilbert, M. G. 1986. Notes on East African Vernonieae (Compositae): a revision of the Vernonia galamensis complex. Notes on East African Vernonieae (Compositae) 4. Kew Bull. 41:20.
1	Native	Africa	West-Central Tropical Africa	Central African Republic	Gilbert, M. G. 1986. Notes on East African Vernonieae (Compositae): a revision of the Vernonia galamensis complex. Notes on East African Vernonieae (Compositae) 4. Kew Bull. 41:20.

Native
Africa

MACARONESIA: Cabo Verde
NORTHEAST TROPICAL AFRICA: Eritrea, Ethiopia, Sudan, Somalia, Chad
EAST TROPICAL AFRICA: Kenya, Tanzania, Uganda
WEST-CENTRAL TROPICAL AFRICA: Central African Republic, Cameroon
WEST TROPICAL AFRICA: Benin, Côte D'Ivoire, Ghana, Guinea, Gambia, Guinea-Bissau, Mali, Niger, Nigeria, Senegal, Sierra Leone
SOUTH TROPICAL AFRICA: Mozambique, Malawi, Zimbabwe

Reference(s)

PROTABASE, the information base of PROTA (Plant Resources of Tropical Africa) (on-line resource).
Gilbert, M. G. 1986. Notes on East African Vernonieae (Compositae): a revision of the Vernonia galamensis complex. Notes on East African Vernonieae (Compositae) 4. Kew Bull. 41:20.
Hedberg, I. & S. Edwards. 1989-. Flora of Ethiopia Note: Eritrea added in 2000

Economic Uses

Usage	Type	Note	Reference
Materials	lipids	potential	Mideksa, A. et al. 2019. Centrapalus pauciflorus (Willd.) H. Rob. neglected potential oil crop of Ethiopia, agro-morphological characterization. Genet. Resources Crop Evol. 66:545-554. DOI: 10.1007/s10722-018-0719-1.
Materials	lipids	potential source of epoxy acid	Perdue, R. E. et al. 1986. Vernonia galamensis, potential new crop source of epoxy acid. Econ. Bot. 40:54-68. DOI: 10.1007/BF02858947. Note: as Vernonia galamensis (Cass.) Less. cultivated in Kenya
Materials	lipids	potential source of vernolic acid	PROTABASE, the information base of PROTA (Plant Resources of Tropical Africa) (on-line resource). Note: as Vernonia galamensis
Medicines	folklore		PROTABASE, the information base of PROTA (Plant Resources of Tropical Africa) (on-line resource). Note: as Vernonia galamensis

Cite as: USDA, Agricultural Research Service, National Plant Germplasm System. 2026. Germplasm Resources Information Network (GRIN Taxonomy). National Germplasm Resources Laboratory, Beltsville, Maryland.
URL: https://npgstest.ars-grin.gov/gringlobal/taxon/taxonomydetail?id=462428. Accessed 12 May 2026.