elephantopus

Elephantopus is a genus of flowering plants in the family Asteraceae. Common names include elephant's ear and elephant's foot. The genus comprises several perennial herbaceous species native to tropical and subtropical regions of the Americas, Africa, and Asia, with some species widely naturalized in other warm regions.

Plants are usually clump-forming perennials with opposite, often large leaves. They bear loose inflorescences of small flower heads, each containing multiple florets that are typically purple, pink, or white. The fruit is a small dry cypsela with a pappus of hair, enabling wind dispersal.

Elephantopus belongs to the tribe Vernonieae within the Asteraceae. The genus was described by Carl Linnaeus. It occupies open habitats such as grasslands, wood margins, and disturbed sites, especially in warm climates.

Several species have been used in traditional medicine in various regions, though scientific evidence of efficacy varies and is not well established for all species. The genus is generally not a major ornamental group, but some species are grown in tropical gardens for their foliage or flowers.

The name Elephantopus derives from the Greek elephantos meaning "elephant" and pous meaning "foot", a reference to its large leaves.