Acanthospermum hispidum DC.
-
Authority
Acevedo-Rodríguez, Pedro & collaborators. 1996. Flora of St. John, U.S. Virgin Islands. Mem. New York Bot. Gard. 78: 1-581.
-
Family
Asteraceae
-
Scientific Name
-
Description
Species Description - Erect, annual herb to 60 cm tall, moderately branched above, covered with multicellular strigose hairs; stems with longitudinal lines. Leaves sessile, 1.5-9 x 0.6-4 cm, ovate to broadly elliptic or deltoid, 3-nerved from base, the apex acute to obtuse, the base acuminate to cuneate, the margins serrate. Inflorescence solitary, sessile in the leaf axils. Heads radiate; involucre bell-shaped at maturity, broadly expanding to 2 cm wide in fruit, the outer involucral bracts 5, herbaceous, 3.5-4.5 mm long, ovate to oblong with acute apices; receptacle with narrowly lanceolate palea. Ray flowers 6-8; corollas inconspicuous, cream-colored to pale yellow, 1.5-2 mm long. Disk flowers 5-9; corollas pale yellow, 1.5-2.5 mm long; anthers black. Achenes in an involucral fruit to 8 mm long, bearing scattered stiff, uncinate prickles with 2 conspicuous apical prickles to 5 mm long.
-
Discussion
Occasional at sea level, on open roadsides and in dry scrublands. Coral Bay Quarter along Center Line Road (A3998), trail to Fortsberg (A5271), between Bethany and Rosenberg (B252). Also on St. Croix, St. Thomas, Tortola, and Virgin Gorda; throughout the Antilles, southeastern United States, Central America, South America, and naturalized throughout many areas of the world.
-
Distribution
St. Croix, St. Thomas, Tortola, and Virgin Gorda; throughout the Antilles, southeastern United States, Central America, South America, and naturalized throughout many areas of the world.
South America| Central America| United States of America North America| West Indies| Virgin Gorda Virgin Islands South America| Tortola Virgin Islands South America| Saint Thomas Virgin Islands of the United States South America| Saint Croix Virgin Islands of the United States South America|