Code
ACNAU
Growth form
Broadleaf
Biological cycle
annual
Habitat
terrestrial
🗒 Synonyms
| synonym | Acanthospermum brasilianum Schrank |
| synonym | Acanthospermum hirsutum DC. |
| synonym | Acanthospermum xanthioides (Kunth) DC. |
| synonym | Acanthospermum xanthioides var. acutifolium DC. |
| synonym | Acanthospermum xanthioides var. obtusifolium DC. |
| synonym | Acanthospermum xanthioides var. xanthioides |
| synonym | Centrospermum xanthioides Kunth |
| synonym | Centrospermum xanthioides Kunth [Illegitimate] |
| synonym | Echinodium prostratum Poit. |
| synonym | Melampodium australe Loefl. |
| synonym | Orcya adhaerens Vell. |
| synonym | Orcya adhaerescens Vell. |
🗒 Common Names
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| Anglais / English |
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| Creoles and pidgins; French-based |
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| Malagasy |
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| Sotho |
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| Spanish; Castilian |
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📚 Overview
Description
Global description
Acanthospermum australe is an upright to prostrate annual herbaceous plant, with prostrate stems, often rooting at the nodes, 10-60 cm long, pubescent with short appressed hairs. The leaves are simple, opposite and have a very short stalk; their shape are rhombic-ovate to triangular with an irregularly serrate margin. The two faces are scattered with glands. The small capitulum-shaped inflorescences are found at the ends of branches or in the axillaries with yellowish cream tubulate florets and few ligular ones. The fruits are wedged-shape akenes, and are arranged in a star; they are covered with numerous hooked spines of uniform size.
Cotyledons
Cotyledons are orbicular and subsessile, 20 mm in diameter. The base is slightly cordate; 3-5 veins run from the base of the blade.
Growth habit
Acanthospermum australe is an annual plant with prostrate stems, 10 to 60 cm long, often forming a dense cover.
Underground system
It has taproot system.
Stem
The stem is cylindrical, full and of purple colour. It is hispid with yellowish hairs.
Leaf
The leaves are simple, opposite, held by a short petiole. The blade is ovate to elliptic in shape, with an acuminate apex and cuneate base; the blade is smooth, shiny, glabrous on the upper face and finely pubescent on the lower face; the two faces are scattered with glands. The margin is irregularly serrated.
Inflorescence
The inflorescences are solitary capitulum found at the ends of branches or in axils, with short peduncles having dense hispid hairs. The capitulum measures 5 to 10 mm in diameter, accrescent at the fruiting stage, reaching 20 mm in diameter. The involucral bracts are oval-oblong, the external ones being shorter, from 1 to 2 mm than those inside, which are 3 to 10 mm long, densely cilliated towards the base.
Flower
The capitulum contains yellowish tubular florets at the centre and ligulate ones at the periphery.
Fruit
The fruits, 6 to 10 in numbers (generally 8) per capitulum are akenes, 8 to 10 mm long, fusiform-oblong, slightly compressed, 5-7 ribbed, covered with hooked spines mainly along the ribs. Big terminal spine is absent on it.
Thomas Le Bourgeois
| Attributions | |
| Contributors | |
| Status | UNDER_CREATION |
| Licenses | CC_BY |
| References |
There is content in another language. Please click here to read it. (Français)
No Data
📚 Nomenclature and Classification
No Data
📚 Natural History
Life Cycle
Life cycle
Annual
Madagascar: Flowers mainly during the hot, rainy season.
Brazil: In the southern part of Brazil, Acanthospermum australe occurs from spring to autumn and disappears in winter. In the more humid northern and north-eastern regions, it is present all year round.
South Africa: Acanthospermum australe flowers and fruits from January to June.
Wiktrop
| Attributions | Wiktrop |
| Contributors | |
| Status | UNDER_CREATION |
| Licenses | CC_BY |
| References |
There is content in another language. Please click here to read it. (Français)
Reproduction
There is content in another language. Please click here to read it. (Français)
Acanthospermum australe is an annual plant that propagates by seeds. Fruits echinate over the entire surface by short hooked spines are disseminated by animals and men during agricultural work. There is also a vegetative propagation through prostrate stems rooted at the nodes.
Thomas Le Bourgeois
| Attributions | |
| Contributors | |
| Status | UNDER_CREATION |
| Licenses | CC_BY |
| References |
Morphology
Growth form
Prostrated
Leaf arrangement
Opposite
Leaf type
Simple
Type of prefoliation
Leaf ratio medium
Equality of opposite leaves
Opposite leaves equal
Latex
Without latex
Stem section
Square
Root type
Taproot
Hollow or solid stem
Solid stem
Stipule type
No stipule
Leaf attachment type
with petiole
Fruit type
Achene
Cotyledon type
emarginate
Lamina base
attenuate
Lamina margin
largely dentate
Lamina apex
acute
Upperface pilosity
Dense hairy
Upperface hair type
Glands
Lowerface pilosity
Less hairy
Lowerface hair type
Glands
Simple leaf type
Lamina elliptic
Lamina section
flat
Lamina Veination
3 opposite at the basis
Flower color
Yellow
Green
Inflorescence type
Capitule with tubular and ligulate flowers
Stem pilosity
Less hairy
Stem hair type
Pubescent
Life form
Broadleaf plant
Look Alikes
There is content in another language. Please click here to read it. (Français)
Acanthospermum australe can be confused with Acanthospermum hispidum, but A. hispidum is upright and very hispid, and has 2 prominent spines at the apex of the akene.
dummy
| Attributions | dummy |
| Contributors | |
| Status | UNDER_CREATION |
| Licenses | CC_BY_SA |
| References |
Physiology
There is content in another language. Please click here to read it. (Français)
Acanthospermum australe is a C3 species.
Wiktrop
| Attributions | Wiktrop |
| Contributors | |
| Status | UNDER_CREATION |
| Licenses | CC_BY |
| References |
Ecology
There is content in another language. Please click here to read it. (Français)
It prefers sandy soils and occurs along roadsides, in disturbed areas and dry river beds.
Brazil: Acanthospermum australe is widely distributed from the Amazon (non-flooded land) to the Rio Grande do Sul, with a high abundance in the Cerrado. It is one of the first species to establish itself after soil preparation. It dominates other species in poor, acid soils, but grows more strongly in fertilised soils.
Comoros: Species absent
Madagascar: Acanthospermum australe grows on lateritic soils on plateaus, hills and terraces, alluvial soils with very low to medium fertility, in areas with sub-humid mountain climate . It invades rainfed crops , pastures, roadsides and waste lands around dwellings. It grows on very sunny or slightly shaded areas, in rainfed crops from rice or cassava , Bambara groundnut , in extensive to semi-intensive farming systems. The agro-ecological zones concerned in the country are the central highlands, the Middle West and the eastern slope of Madagascar from 800 m altitude. This species is not found at all at low altitude nor east or west of Madagascar; it is currently found between 800 and 1800 m altitude. The lowest altitude where we recorded this species in abundance is the area of Moramanga - Alaotra, in the Middle East (800 to 1000 m altitude). At altitude, it is abundant around Antsirabe Ambohibary (1500 - 1600 m).
Mauritius: Species absent
Reunion: Species absent
South Africa: Acanthospermum australe is a weed of overgrazed grasslands, roadsides and other uncultivated areas. In Natal, it is found along the coast and in the Midlands and Zululand below 1370 m altitude.
West Indies: Naturalised species.
dummy
| Attributions | dummy |
| Contributors | |
| Status | UNDER_CREATION |
| Licenses | CC_BY_SA |
| References |
No Data
📚 Habitat and Distribution
General Habitat
Habitat
Terrestrial
Description
Geographical distibution
Madagascar
Origin
Acanthospermum australe is native to Central and South America.
Worldwide distribution
South and Central America , Southern USA , Central Africa and East , Madagascar , China, Indonesia , Australia.
Wiktrop
| Attributions | Wiktrop |
| Contributors | |
| Status | UNDER_CREATION |
| Licenses | CC_BY |
| References |
There is content in another language. Please click here to read it. (Français)
No Data
📚 Occurrence
No Data
📚 Demography and Conservation
Risk Statement
Local weediness
Brazil: Acanthospermum australe is a highly competitive weed. It grows very quickly after tillage. It tends to eliminate weed grasses. It is a highly competitive species for annual crops, particularly low-covering crops on acid soils of low fertility.
Comoros: Absent
Madagascar: Acanthospermum australe is a newly introduced species (first record in 2000 the area of Imerintsiantosika - Arivonimamo) spreading rapidly over all the Central Highlands of Madagascar above 800 meters, is currently quite common and abundant in the rainfed Central Highlands crops, on roadsides and fallow lands and pastures. This species is now widespread in the Central Highlands (Antananarivo - Antsirabe - Ambositra), the Middle West (Itasy - Sakay) and especially in the Middle East (Moramanga - Alaotra lake). A. australe is an annual species that grows in large numbers and rapidly at the start of the rainy season, it can bloom all year and multiplies rapidly.
Maurice: Absent.
Reunion: Absent.
Wiktrop
| Attributions | Wiktrop |
| Contributors | |
| Status | UNDER_CREATION |
| Licenses | CC_BY |
| References |
There is content in another language. Please click here to read it. (Français)
No Data
📚 Uses and Management
Management
There is content in another language. Please click here to read it. (Français)
There is content in another language. Please click here to read it. (Français)
No Data
📚 Information Listing
Global Biodiversity Information Facility (GBIF)
There is content in another language. Please click here to read it. (Français)
Thomas Le Bourgeois
| Attributions | |
| Contributors | |
| Status | UNDER_CREATION |
| Licenses | CC_BY |
| References |
References
- Foxcroft, L.C., Henderson, L., Nichols, G.R., Martin, B.W. A revised list of alien plants for the Kruger National Park.Koedoe
- Bromilow C. 2010. Problem plants and alien weeds of South Africa. Pretoria: Briza Publications, p.316.
- Flora of Zimbabwe
- Flora of North America
- US Forest Service, Pacific Island Ecosystems at Risk (PIER)
- Flora of Zimbabwe http://www.zimbabweflora.co.zw/speciesdata/species.php?species_id=160260
- Flora of North America http://www.efloras.org/florataxon.aspx?flora_id=1&taxon_id=200023004
- A revised list of alien plants for the Kruger National Park.Koedoe Foxcroft, L.C., Henderson, L., Nichols, G.R., Martin, B.W.
- DE CARVALHO C.C. et al. 2014. Chemical composition and antimicrobial activity of essential oil of Brazilian plants Acanthospermum australe, Calea fruticosa and Mikania glauca African Journal of Pharmacy and Pharmacology vol 8 (14), pp 392-398.
- HUSSON O et al; 2010. ANNEXE 1: Les principales plantes des jachères et adventices des cultures à Madagascar 63p.
- ANTOINE R., BOSSER J. & FERGUSON I.K. 1993 Flore des Mascareignes. La Réunion, Maurice, Rodrigues. 109 COMPOSEES p. 198-201
- Le Bourgeois, T., P. Grard, L. C. Foxcroft, D. Thompson, A. Carrara, A. Guézou, R. W. Taylor and T. Marshall (2013). Pl@ntInvasive-Kruger V.1.0 : Alien plants of the Kruger National Park. Cdrom. Montpellier, France, Skukuza, South Africa, Cirad-SANparks-SAEON eds.
- Plants of the World Online https://powo.science.kew.org/taxon/urn:lsid:ipni.org:names:1692-2
- The World Flora Online http://www.worldfloraonline.org/taxon/wfo-0000114552
- Kissmann K.G. & Groth D., 1992. Plantas Infestantes e Nocivas, Tomo II, BASF. Sao Paulo.
- Fournet, J. 2002. Flore illustrée des phanérogames de Guadeloupe et de Martinique. Montpellier, France, Cirad, Gondwana éditions.
- CABI https://www.cabidigitallibrary.org/doi/10.1079/cabicompendium.118957
Information Listing > References
- Foxcroft, L.C., Henderson, L., Nichols, G.R., Martin, B.W. A revised list of alien plants for the Kruger National Park.Koedoe
- Bromilow C. 2010. Problem plants and alien weeds of South Africa. Pretoria: Briza Publications, p.316.
- Flora of Zimbabwe
- Flora of North America
- US Forest Service, Pacific Island Ecosystems at Risk (PIER)
- Flora of Zimbabwe http://www.zimbabweflora.co.zw/speciesdata/species.php?species_id=160260
- Flora of North America http://www.efloras.org/florataxon.aspx?flora_id=1&taxon_id=200023004
- HEAR http://www.hear.org/pier/species/acanthospermum_australe.htm
- A revised list of alien plants for the Kruger National Park.Koedoe Foxcroft, L.C., Henderson, L., Nichols, G.R., Martin, B.W.
- DE CARVALHO C.C. et al. 2014. Chemical composition and antimicrobial activity of essential oil of Brazilian plants Acanthospermum australe, Calea fruticosa and Mikania glauca African Journal of Pharmacy and Pharmacology vol 8 (14), pp 392-398.
- HUSSON O et al; 2010. ANNEXE 1: Les principales plantes des jachères et adventices des cultures à Madagascar 63p.
- ANTOINE R., BOSSER J. & FERGUSON I.K. 1993 Flore des Mascareignes. La Réunion, Maurice, Rodrigues. 109 COMPOSEES p. 198-201
- Le Bourgeois, T., P. Grard, L. C. Foxcroft, D. Thompson, A. Carrara, A. Guézou, R. W. Taylor and T. Marshall (2013). Pl@ntInvasive-Kruger V.1.0 : Alien plants of the Kruger National Park. Cdrom. Montpellier, France, Skukuza, South Africa, Cirad-SANparks-SAEON eds.
- Plants of the World Online https://powo.science.kew.org/taxon/urn:lsid:ipni.org:names:1692-2
- The World Flora Online http://www.worldfloraonline.org/taxon/wfo-0000114552
- Kissmann K.G. & Groth D., 1992. Plantas Infestantes e Nocivas, Tomo II, BASF. Sao Paulo.
- Fournet, J. 2002. Flore illustrée des phanérogames de Guadeloupe et de Martinique. Montpellier, France, Cirad, Gondwana éditions.
- CABI https://www.cabidigitallibrary.org/doi/10.1079/cabicompendium.118957
Images
Herbarium pictures ReCOLNAT: https://explore.recolnat.org/search/botanique/simplequery=Acanthospermum%2520australe
Thomas Le Bourgeois
| Attributions | |
| Contributors | |
| Status | UNDER_CREATION |
| Licenses | CC_BY |
| References |
There is content in another language. Please click here to read it. (Français)
No Data
🐾 Taxonomy
| Root | Root |
| Kingdom | Plantae |
| Phylum | Tracheophyta |
| Class | Magnoliopsida |
| Order | Asterales |
| Family | Asteraceae |
| Genus | Acanthospermum |
| Species | Acanthospermum australe (Loefl.) Kuntze |
📊 Temporal Distribution
📷 Related Observations
