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Spermacoce alata

Aubl. (1775)

This name is accepted

Kingdom: Viridiplantae Phylum: Magnoliophyta Class/Clade: Eudicot-Asterids Order: Gentianales Family: Rubiaceae Genus: Spermacoce

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Description

Key Characters:

Growth Form:

Stems:

Roots:

Leaves:

Flowers:

Fruit:

Ploidy:

Habitat:

Elevation Range:

Historical Distribution

Images

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Uses and Culture

USES

Natural History

Statewide Status

Naturalized

Island Status

Kaua'i Potentially naturalizing
O'ahu Potentially naturalizing

Dispersal Agents


Pollinators

Specimens

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Bibliography

Name Published In: Hist. Pl. Guiane: 60 (1775)

Other References

Lorence et al. 1995:51 (NEWNAT/K, KEY [as S. latifolia]); Oppenheimer 2004:17 (EM); Lorence & Flynn 2006:4 (KEY); Oppenheimer 2010:38 (Mo); Imada & Kennedy 2020:85 (O); Lorence & Faccenda 2024 (Syn. S. latifolia = S. alata, remove M [re-IDed as S. remota], remove Mo [re-IDed as Spermacoce sp.], KEY)

Occurrences

SNo. Scientific Name Locality Habitat Basis of Record Description Recorded By Record Number Island Source Date
1 Spermacoce alata Waianae Mts., Makaha, Kumaipo saddle, Burnsite LZ. Associated vegetation: Canopy: Acacia koa, Psidium cattleyanum, Metrosideros polymorpha. Understory: Melinis minutiflora, Asclepias physocarpa, Rubus rosifolius, Rubus argutus. Preserved_Specimen Two small patches each ca. 2 square meters, ca. 100 meters apart. Square-stemmed herb <1 ft tall; leaves hairy, with well-defined venation; white, 4-petaled flowers, fused at base; fruit split slightly in 2, purple-pink tinged, with one seed in each side. Seedlings present. Tschannen, K. 453 Oahu BISH 2016-11-17
2 Spermacoce alata sugar cane road E of Omoe, Lihue distr ruderal Preserved_Specimen herbs with prostrate or erect branches to 50cm.; flowers white, falling of in the afternoon; both mericarps of fruits opening, seeds (light) brownish Kiehn, M. 90091724 Kauai BISH 1990-09-17
3 Spermacoce alata sugar cane road E of Omoe, Lihue distr ruderal Preserved_Specimen herbs with prostrate or erect branches to 50 cm.; flowers white, falling of in the afternoon; both mericaps of fruits opening, seeds (light) brownish Kiehn, M. 90091724 Kauai BISH 1990-09-17
4 Spermacoce alata Waianae Mts., Makaha-Kumaipo saddle, burn site LZ. Ca. 2 square meter patches found on two different spots on the trail ca. 100 m apart, including one on open ground on an LZ. Associated canopy: Acacia koa, Metrosideros polymorpha, Psidium cattleianum. Understory: Melinis minutiflora, Asclepias physocarpa, Rubus argutus, Alyxia stellata. Preserved_Specimen Herb less than 1 ft tall; stem square. Leaves hairy, veins well defined. Flowers white with slight purple-pink tinge, 4-petaled, fused at the base. Fruit splits in 2, with one seed in each side. Tschannen, K. 455 Oahu BISH 2016-12-01
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