Achyranthes aspera

<<<<Spikes>Bracteoles>Base>Central vein>Length

to 1.5 mm long1

1. 003-005-004-003-002

<<<<Spikes>Bracteoles>Base>Central vein>Shape

tawny, subulate, conspicuously indurated2

2. 003-005-004-003-001

<<<Leaves>Apex>Lower parts>Colour

lighter green3

3. 002-004-003-001

<<<Leaves>Apex>Lower parts>Hairs

often more densely pubescent4

4. 002-004-003-002

<<<Leaves>Apex>Upper parts>Colour

dark green5

5. 002-004-002-001

<<<Leaves>Apex>Upper parts>Hairs

pubescent above6

6. 002-004-002-002

<<<Spikes>Bracteoles>Base>Central vein

central vein protracted into a awn7

7. 003-005-004-003

<<<Spikes>Bracteoles>Base>Shape

suborbicular8

8. 003-005-004-002

<<<Spikes>Bracteoles>Base>Texture

membranous9

9. 003-005-004-001

<<Habit>Hairs>Colour

whitish10

10. 001-002-001

<<Habit>Stems>Colour

purplish11

11. 001-003-001

<<Leaves>Apex>Lower parts

and below12

12. 002-004-003

<<Leaves>Apex>Shape

acuminate or rounded, sometimes apiculate13

13. 002-004-001

<<Leaves>Apex>Upper parts

and14

14. 002-004-002

<<Spikes>Bracteoles>Base

base and , .15

15. 003-005-004

<<Spikes>Bracteoles>Colour

purple-tinged16

16. 003-005-001

<<Spikes>Bracteoles>Length

3-4 mm long17

17. 003-005-003

<<Spikes>Bracteoles>Shape

lanceolate18

18. 003-005-002

<<Spikes>Bracts>Colour

white, hyaline19

19. 003-004-001

<<Spikes>Bracts>Length

ca. 3 mm long20

20. 003-004-003

<<Spikes>Bracts>Shape

narrowly lanceolate21

21. 003-004-002

<<Tepals>Margins>Colour

hyaline22

22. 004-003-001

<<Tepals>Ovary>Shape

turbinate23

23. 004-004-001

<<Tepals>Ovary>Stigma

stigma unlobed, scarcely enlarged.24

24. 004-004-003

<<Tepals>Ovary>Texture

thickened and papillate above25

25. 004-004-002

<<Tepals>Shape>Length

3.7-4.5 mm long26

26. 004-002-001

<Habit>Hairs

-pubescent27

27. 001-002

<Habit>Height

to 1 m28

28. 001-001

<Habit>Stems

stems obscurely angled, .29

29. 001-003

<Leaves>Apex

apex , , .30

30. 002-004

<Leaves>Dimensions

0.5-19 x 6 cm31

31. 002-002

<Leaves>Margins

often with undulate margin32

32. 002-003

<Leaves>Shape

lanceolate, ovate, oblong, elliptical, oblanceolate, suborbicular or orbicular33

33. 002-001

<Spikes>Bracteoles

bracteoles , , ,34

34. 003-005

<Spikes>Bracts

bracts , , ;35

35. 003-004

<Spikes>Growth form

sometimes recurved or flexuous at apex36

36. 003-003

<Spikes>Hairs

lanate37

37. 003-002

<Spikes>Length

to 60 cm long38

38. 003-001

<Tepals>Colour

pinkish, brown, purplish or white39

39. 004-001

<Tepals>Margins

with margin40

40. 004-003

<Tepals>Ovary

ovary , ,41

41. 004-004

<Tepals>Shape

lance-elliptical, , apiculate42

42. 004-002

<Utricles>Length

ca. 2 mm long43

43. 005-002

<Utricles>Shape

truncate at apex44

44. 005-001

Description

Herb to 1 m, whitish-pubescent, becoming somewhat woody at base; stems obscurely angled, purplish. Leaf-blade lanceolate, ovate, oblong, elliptical, oblanceolate, suborbicular or orbicular, 0.5-19 x 6 cm, often with undulate margin, apex acuminate or rounded, sometimes apiculate, dark green and pubescent above, lighter green and often more densely pubescent below. Spikes to 60 cm long, slender, with lanate axes, sometimes recurved or flexuous at apex; bracts white, hyaline, narrowly lanceolate, ca. 3 mm long; bracteoles purple-tinged, lanceolate, 3-4 mm long, base membranous and suborbicular, central vein protracted into a tawny, subulate, conspicuously induratedto 1.5 mm long awn. Tepals pinkish, brown, purplish or white, lance-elliptical, 3.7-4.5 mm long, apiculate, with hyaline margin; ovary turbinate, thickened and papillate above, stigma unlobed, scarcely enlarged. Utricle truncate at apex, ca. 2 mm long.

Distribution

Asia present, Guianas present, Pantropical present

This species essentially comprises two elements, of which the Guianan one is a variety originally indigenous to Asia, but now pantropically naturalized as a weed (i.e., var. aspera); 22 collections studied, all from the Guianas (GU: 11; SU: 9; FG: 2).

Habit

Herb , , becoming somewhat woody at base;45

45. 001

Leaves

Leaf-blade , , ,46

46. 002

Notes

In the Guianas only: var. aspera.

Spikes

Spikes , slender, with axes, ;47

47. 003

Tepals

Tepals , , ;48

48. 004

Utricles

Utricle , .49

49. 005

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