Blutaparon vermiculare (L.) Mears
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Authority
Acevedo-Rodríguez, Pedro & collaborators. 1996. Flora of St. John, U.S. Virgin Islands. Mem. New York Bot. Gard. 78: 1-581.
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Family
Amaranthaceae
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Scientific Name
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Description
Species Description - Prostrate or decumbent perennial herb, to 25 cm long; branches fleshy and cylindrical, reddish brown, yellowish and rooting at nodes, glabrous except for tufts of hairs at nodes. Leaf blades 1- 6 X 0.2-0.8 cm, oblanceolate, fleshy, glabrous, the upper surface shiny, the lower surface dull, the apex acute or obtuse and mucronate, the base tapering into a clasping base, the margins strongly turned under. Flowers produced in dense cylindrical or globose heads, with tuft of hairs at base of pedicel; bracts and bracteoles ca. 3 mm long, cream, lanceolate. Tepals whitish, turning strawcolored with age, 3.5 mm long, oblong, glabrous; anthers lanceolate; ovary lenticular, the stigmas 2, short and straight. Seeds 1 mm long, lenticular, reddish brown.
Distribution and Ecology - Along sandy shores. Annaberg (A2921) Fish Bav (A3903). Also on Anegada, St. Croix, St. Thomaf, Tortol 'an^Vifg Gorda; widespread throughout coastal areas of tropical America