Iva imbricata

Iva imbricata Walt.

Common Names: Beach Iva, Sea Coast Marsh Elder, Dune Marsh Elder

Family: Asteraceae

Habit: Iva imbricata is a succulent perennial (woody) herb to 50 cm in height (usually lower) and typically forming mats. The fleshy leaves are arranged alternately (occasionally opposite), to 6 cm in length with an entire margin (occasionally toothed) and mucronate leaf apex.

Iva imbricata is monoecious. The incomplete, imperfect, actinomorphic flowers are arranged in heads subtended an involucre made of 2 series of phyllaries. The actinomorphic, staminate flowers have 5 fused sepals, 5 unfused stamens, and a non-functional ovary.  The zygomorphic carpellate flowers occur in the center of the head, each subtended by a bract, has a perianth tube, no stamens and a single superior ovary that becomes an achene at maturity.  The achenes are covered with pubescence and tubercles.

Habitat: Iva imbricata grows in sandy dune areas along shorelines.

Distribution: Iva imbricata occurs on all island groupings within the Lucayan Archipelago as well as the southern United States and Cuba.

Medicinal/Cultural/Economic usage: Iva imbricata is not know to be used medicinally in the Lucayan Archipelago.