Artemisia verlotiorum Lamotte (Anthemideae, Asteraceae), an invasive alien from the South African list of prohibited plants, is already present in South Africa

The Eurasian species Artemisia vulgaris L. has been reported from the Eastern Cape Province (Stutterheim District) in South Africa since at least half a century. However, examination of relevant herbarium specimens demonstrated that African plant material belongs to morphologically similar East Asian species, A. verlotiorum. It is included Alien and Invasive Species Lists as prohibited absent country. judging available data, it become locally naturalised weed cultivated land apparently difficult eradicate. verlotiorum indeed pernicious many regions world, appearing be much more invasive than vulgaris, especially warm-temperate subtropical climates. Characteristics useful for distinguishing these two are provided.