Galinsoga parviflora in Sopa de Pollo?

[John McNeill]

On 1 December 1995, James Beach wrote:

> Please respond to GBScott at aol.com, not to Beach.

> Thanks.

> ---------- Forwarded message ----------
> Date: Fri, 1 Dec 1995 15:34:19 -0500
> From: GBScott at aol.com
> Subject: Galinsoga parviflora

> I am attempting to determine whether a South American herb, known as
> guascas or huascas in Colombia, is related to any plants in North
> America.  The botanical name of guascas, as I understand it, is
> Galinsoga parviflora L.  Is there a directory of some sort that would
> tell me (1) whether such a plant grows in North America and (2) what
> its common name is?  My interest is not botanical.  Guascas is an
> important ingredient is ajiaco, a chicken soup from Colombia.  My
> Colombian friends tell me guascas is a weed that grows in the Andes.

> Thanks for any assistance you can give me.

_Galinsoga parviflora_ Cav., native in Andean South America, is a
cosmopolitan annual weed, extremely common in arable land throughout
those parts of the world with a reasonably warm moist season.  In the UK
it has been called "Gallant Soldier" and "Joey Hooker", the former
having been taken up by some North American wild flower books.

John McNeill

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