Parthenium comes from the Greek word parthenos, for "virgin", a reference to the infertile disk flowers. Integrifolium is the Latin word meaning "entire-leaved".

Wild Quinine is common to dry areas of prairies and open woods across most of the United States. White flowers appear from May to September and it can attain 4 feet in height. Basal leaves are quite large. up to a foot long and 4 inches wide. Leaves alternate on the stem and become prgressively smaller as they near the top of the stem. The flower heads are often described as looking like a small head of cauliflower.

Native Americans made a tea from the leaves to treat fevers and the Catawbas of the Eastern seaboard used the leaves to treat burns.

Edible Uses: Unknown

Medicinal Uses: A poultice made from the fresh leaves is applied to burns.

The root is used in the treatment of inflammation of the urinary passages and kidneys, amenorrhoea and as a lithontripic. The flowering tops are used as a substitute for quinine in the treatment of intermittent fevers. One study suggests that use of the plant might stimulate the immune system.

Herbal Uses: Unknown