Habit: Emilia sonchifolia grows as an herbaceous annual to about 75 cm in height (usually much shorter) when in flower. The leaves are arranged alternately, to 18 cm in length and without petioles; sagittately clasping to the stem. The leaves are obovate to oblanceolate with an acute or obtuse leaf apex and toothed to lobed margin. The leaves have a sparse covering of pubescence.
The complete, perfect, actinomorphic flowers are arranged in heads. The head is subtended by a single set of phyllaries forming an urn shaped involucre. The calyx has been reduced to a series of fine hairs (pappus). The corolla has 5 fused, pink/lavender petals. There are 5 stamens that are fused to the inside of the corolla tube. The inferior ovary has a single locule. The fruit is a ribbed achene that retains the pappus at maturity. The pappus aids in aerial fruit/seed dispersal.
Habitat: Emilia sonchifolia grows in Human Altered environments such as yards, roadsides and abandoned fields.
Distribution: Emilia sonchifolia is Not Native to the Lucayan Archipelago but does occur throughout the islands. It is native to the African and Asian regions but is now widespread throughout the tropical and subtropical regions of the world.
Medicinal/Cultural/Economic usage: Emilia sonchifolia is not used medicinally in the Bahamas