Chaptalia nutans is a species of plant in the Asteraceae family native to tropical and subtropical America. It is the most common species of its genus.
Chaptalia nutans is a perennial, rhizomatous, terrestrial herb with a short rhizome and adventitious, short primary roots and fibrous lateral roots. The small stem produces sessile, hairy, 5âÂÂ20(âÂÂ32) cm long, and 2.5âÂÂ6 cm wide leaves.
The peduncles 10âÂÂ60 cm long. The nodding capitulum has 150-320 florets. The achenes are 9âÂÂ20 mm long. The cream-coloured pappus is 10âÂÂ12 mm long.
The diploid chromosome count is 2n = 48.
In Brazil, flowering and fruiting occurs in October to January, when the dry season is coming to an end.
It occurs in warm and humid habitats in shade, and may also be found in habitats experiencing seasonal droughts.
It was first published as Tussilago nutans by Carl Linnaeus in 1759. It was transferred to the genus Chaptalia as Chaptalia nutans by Hellmuth Polakowski (1847âÂÂ1917) in 1878.
The specific epithet nutans means "nodding". It refers to the nodding inflorescences.
It has applications in folk medicine.
It is easy to grow.