Boerhavia diffusa Mill.

  • Authority

    Acevedo-Rodríguez, Pedro & collaborators. 1996. Flora of St. John, U.S. Virgin Islands. Mem. New York Bot. Gard. 78: 1-581.

  • Family

    Nyctaginaceae

  • Scientific Name

    Boerhavia diffusa Mill.

  • Description

    Species Description - Prostrate or ascending herb, to 50 cm long, many-branched from a taproot; twigs cylindrical, glabrous. Leaves in unequal pairs; blades 1.2-5.5 x 1.3-4 cm, ovate to wide ovate, chartaceous, sparsely pilose, especially on veins, lower side glaucous, the apex rounded to acute, shortly apiculate, the base rounded, truncate to nearly cordate, the margins wavy, ciliate; petioles pilose, 0.5-3 cm long. Flowers nearly sessile, 2-4(-7) in terminal, subcapitate clusters on axillary racemes or terminal panicles, 10- 30 cm long; the axes glabrous; bracts and bracteoles lanceolate. Calyx base 0.5-1.5 mm , puberulent, the limb funnel-shaped, red or violet, 0.6-1 mm long; stamens usually 2, slightly exserted. Anthocarp sessile, green, glandular-pubescent, sticky, short clubshaped, 2-2.5 mm long, 5-ribbed.

    Distribution and Ecology - A common weed of open areas, common along sandy beaches. Reef Bay (A2727). Also on St. Croix, St. Thomas, Tortola, and Virgin Gorda; a pantropical weed.

  • Discussion

    Common names: batta batta, kallaloo bush.