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(Last Modified On 1/28/2013)
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(Last Modified On 1/28/2013)
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Species
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CYATHULA PROSTRATA (L.) Blume
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PlaceOfPublication
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Bijdr. Ned. Ind. 549. 1826.
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Synonym
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Achyranthes prostrata L. Sp. PI. ed. 2:296. 1762. Cyathula geniculata Lour. Fl. Cochinch. 1: 102. 1790. Desmochaeta prostrata DC. Cat. Hort. Monsp. 102. 1813. Pupalia prostrate Mart. Nova Acta Acad. Leop.-Carol. 131: 3 2l. 1826.
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Description
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Erect or decumbent geniculate pubescent perennials to 1 m. high, often rooting at the lower nodes. Leaves strigose on both surfaces, entire or undulate, ovate to obovate, apically acute, basally acute to rounded, 2-6 cm. long, 1-4 cm. broad; petioles 2-8 mm. long. Inflorescences of terminal and axillary spikes of glomerules, the mature glomerule usually consisting of a central terminal perfect flower and 2 lateral perfect flowers, each of the lateral flowers subtended on each side by a cluster of about 20 hooks representing 3 modified flowers, the hooks not conspicu- ously longer than the glomerule, the 4'~ t peduncle of the glomerule articulated near the pubescent primary rhachis; spikes 5-30 cm. long, 4-7 mm. broad, with only the distal half continuous. Unmodified flowers perfect; bracts and bracteoles 2 subequal, ovate, mucronate or aristate, 1-1.5 mm. long; sepals 5, subequal, ovate, concave, scariose, pubescent throughout their length, with 1-3 ribs strongly ex- serted dorsally, 2-3 mm. long; stamens 5, 1-2 mm. long, united below to form a tube bearing 5 intercalated 3-dentate pseudostaminodia; ovary at first tympani- form, becoming ovoid; style 1, stigma 1, at anthesis about equaling the stamens. Utricle ovoid, inconspicuously operculate, 1-2 mm. long; seeds cochleate-orbiculate, succineous, smooth 1-1.5 mm. long.
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Specimen
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BOCAS DEL TORO: vicinity of Chiriqui mLagoon, von Wedel I357; Water Valley, vicinty of Chiriqui Lagoon, von Wredel 1696A; Bastimentos, Mariano Creek, vicinity of Chiriqui Lagoon, vo-n Wedel 2898.
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Note
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Probably adventive in the Americas where it has a rather spotty distribution, this species is presumed to be native in tropical Asia and Africa. The glomerules are similar in complexity to the spikelets of some grasses, and they probably cling rather tenaciously to fur and clothing
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