Stachytarpheta cayennensis (Rich.) Vahl

First published in Enum. Pl. Obs. 1: 208 (1804)
This species is accepted
The native range of this species is S. Mexico to Tropical America. It is a subshrub or shrub and grows primarily in the seasonally dry tropical biome. It is used to treat unspecified medicinal disorders, has environmental uses and social uses, as a medicine and for food.

Extinction risk predictions for the world's flowering plants to support their conservation (2024). Bachman, S.P., Brown, M.J.M., Leão, T.C.C., Lughadha, E.N., Walker, B.E. https://nph.onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/full/10.1111/nph.19592

Conservation
Predicted extinction risk: not threatened. Confidence: confident
[AERP]

Distribution
Biogeografic region: Amazonia, Andean, Caribbean, Orinoquia, Pacific. Elevation range: 0–1800 m a.s.l. Native to Colombia. Colombian departments: Amazonas, Antioquia, Boyacá, Caldas, Cauca, Chocó, Cundinamarca, Huila, Magdalena, Meta, Nariño, Norte de Santander, Quindío, Risaralda, Santander, Tolima, Valle del Cauca.
Habit
Herb, Shrub, Subshrub.
Conservation
National Red List of Colombia (2021): Potential LC.
Ecology
Habitat according IUCN Habitats Classification: forest and woodland, savanna, shrubland, native grassland, wetlands (inland), artificial - terrestrial.
Vernacular
Rinchao, Sacha verbena, Verbena, Verbena negra
[UPFC]

Bernal, R., Gradstein, S.R. & Celis, M. (eds.). 2015. Catálogo de plantas y líquenes de Colombia. Instituto de Ciencias Naturales, Universidad Nacional de Colombia, Bogotá. http://catalogoplantasdecolombia.unal.edu.co

Distribution
Nativa en Colombia; Alt. 0 - 1800 m.; Amazonia, Andes, Llanura del Caribe, Orinoquia, Pacífico, Valle del Cauca, Valle del Magdalena.
Morphology General Habit
Hierba, subarbusto, arbusto
Conservation
Preocupación Menor
[CPLC]

The Useful Plants of Boyacá project

Ecology
Alt. 0 - 1800 m.
Morphology General Habit
Herb, subshrub or shrub.
Conservation
Least concern.
Distribution
Native from Colombia.
[UPB]

Flora Zambesiaca. Vol 8, Pt 7. Avicenniaceae, R. Fernandes. Nesogenaceae, M.A. Diniz. Verbenaceae, R. Fernandes. Lamiaceae, R. Fernandes. 2005.

Type
Type from French Guiana.
Morphology General
A perennial herb or much branched subshrub, 0.4–1.5(2.5) m high, woody at the base, glabrous or shortly pubescent and with a few longer hairs
Morphology Stem
Stem and branches subterete, hispid and scattered pilose mainly on the young parts, glabrescent on older parts
Morphology Leaves
Leaves petiolate, usually blackish on drying; lamina 2–8(9) × 1.6–3.5(4.5) cm, ovate to elliptic, obtuse or rounded to subacute at the apex, attenuate and decurrent into the petiole or ± rounded and abruptly narrowed and narrowly cuneate at the base, crenate-serrate on the margin with teeth usually longer than deep, ± scabridulous on upper surface, glabrous or hairy on the nerves beneath, sometimes with some peltate glands near the base; petiole 1–1.5 cm long
Morphology Reproductive morphology Inflorescences
Spikes slender, 20–45 cm long with rhachis up to 3.5 mm thick in fruit, sparsely but distinctly pubescent to almost glabrous; bracts 3.5–5 × 0.5–1 mm, less than half as wide as the fruiting calyx, narrowly triangular and tapering to a subulate apex, ± equalling or slightly shorter than the fruiting calyx, very narrowly scarious and ± ciliate on the margin, thickened at the base
Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers Corolla
Corolla pale blue, pale lilac or white; tube 4–6 mm long, about equalling the calyx or exserted up to 2 mm; limb 4–7 mm in diameter, the lobes 1.5–2 mm long
Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers Gynoecium Style
Style exserted 1.5–2.5 mm from the calyx after the fall of the corolla
Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers Calyx
Fruiting calyx somewhat embedded in the furrows of the rhachis Calyx 4–5 mm long, tubular, ellipsoid with 1–3 peltate glands near the apex, 4-toothed with the teeth subequal
Morphology Reproductive morphology Fruits
Mericarps 3–4 mm long, nearly black at maturity.
Ecology
Grassland, road sides and disturbed areas; 10–1200 m.
Note
Moldenke in Fifth Summ. Verbenaceae: 629, 1971, considered S. dichotoma (Ruiz & Pavon) Vahl to be synonymous with S. cayennensis , but in 1983 Moldenke & A. Moldenke (op. cit.: 261–263) treated these taxa as separate species, commenting (op. cit. 264, 1983) that S. dichotoma may be a variety of S. cayennensis .   Examination of the types of S. dichotoma (Peru, Ruiz & Pavon, MA) and of S. cayennensis (French Guiana, Leblond 356, G) confirms that the plants are indeed synonymous, the first being a plant with larger leaves.
Distribution
District code: ZIM E, MOZ MS. Widespread and native in tropical America, now widely naturalized throughout the tropics. Mozambique Zimbabwe
[FZ]

Bernal, R., G. Galeano, A. Rodríguez, H. Sarmiento y M. Gutiérrez. 2017. Nombres Comunes de las Plantas de Colombia. http://www.biovirtual.unal.edu.co/nombrescomunes/

Vernacular
caraqueña, cola de armadillo, escobo macho, mata de quincha, rabo de zorra, rabo de zorro, verbena, verbena blanca, verbena macha, verbena macho, verbena morada, verbena negra, verbenilla, virginia
[UNAL]

Sandy Atkins. (2005). The Genus Stachytarpheta (Verbenaceae) in Brazil. Kew Bulletin, 60(2), 161-272. Retrieved from http://www.jstor.org/stable/4110935

Type
French Guyana, Cayenne, 1792, Leblond 356 (lectotype G, chosen by Munir, 1992; photograph K).
Morphology General Habit
Sub-shrub to 1.5 m, dichotomously branched
Morphology Stem
Stem 4- sided, each face slightly rounded, sparsely white-hairy, usually with 2 opposite sides more hairy than other 2, often more hairy at nodes
Morphology Leaves
Leaves chartaceous, narrow- oblong to oblong to ovate, 1.3 - 6.5 x 0.5 - 3 cm; apex acute; base attenuate to long attenuate, decurrent into petiole; margin crenate-serrate, very slightly inrolled; upper surface glabrous to sparsely hairy with scattered sessile glands, lower surface with white hairs along all veins and down into petiole
Morphology Reproductive morphology Inflorescences
Inflorescence 14 - 20 (- 25) cm long by 2 - 3 mm wide; bracts woody, narrowly elliptic to narrowly triangular, 4- 6 mm long, apex long-acuminate, margin at base scarious, sometimes ciliate towards apex
Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers Calyx
Calyx slightly constricted at throat, 4- 6 mm long, outer surface glabrous to minutely hairy, 4-toothed with almost equal teeth, with adaxial sinus
Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers Corolla
Corolla blue, pale blue or violet (occasionally white), with white mark at throat, hypocrateriform, tube straight, slightly constricted at throat, 5 - 7 mm long, lobes c. 1 - 2 mm across
Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers Androecium Stamens
Stamens attached at middle of tube, anthers lying just below throat
Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers Gynoecium Ovary
Ovary oblong, about 2 mm long; style about 3 mm long
Morphology Reproductive morphology Fruits
Fruit c. 3 mm long, dark brown.
Distribution
Central and South America, from the Caribbean Islands to Argentina, and widely naturalised throughout tropical and subtropical regions of the world
Note
This species is very variable in size, shape and indumentum, but the variation does not appear to be geographically correlated. It has been shown to hybridise readily (Danser 1929), particularly with Stachytarpheta jamaicensis.
[KBu]

IUCN Red List of Threatened Species https://www.iucnredlist.org/species/107428233/107468352

Conservation
EX - extinct
[IUCN]

Extinction risk predictions for the world's flowering plants to support their conservation (2024). Bachman, S.P., Brown, M.J.M., Leão, T.C.C., Lughadha, E.N., Walker, B.E. https://nph.onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/full/10.1111/nph.19592

Conservation
Predicted extinction risk: not threatened. Confidence: low confidence
[AERP]

Sandy Atkins. (2005). The Genus Stachytarpheta (Verbenaceae) in Brazil. Kew Bulletin, 60(2), 161-272. Retrieved from http://www.jstor.org/stable/4110935

Type
Rio Grande do Sul, Porto Alegre, 3 Nov. 1892, Lindman A 607 (holotype S).
Morphology General Habit
Shrub to 1 m, dichotomously branched
Morphology Stem
Stem rounded to obscurely 4-sided, glabrous
Morphology Leaves
Leaves somewhat patent, often with further leaves or branchlets in the same axil, chartaceous, ovate, 2 - 5 x 1 - 2.5 cm; apex acute; base attenuate; decurrent into petiole; margin serrate; upper and lower surface glabrous
Morphology Reproductive morphology Inflorescences
Inflorescence up to 30 cm long x c. 4 mm wide; bracts linear, c. 7 - 8 mm long, margin scarious, glabrous
Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers Calyx
Calyx c. 8 mm long, 4 equal teeth, and shallow sinus adaxially, glabrous
Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers Corolla
Corolla light blue, hypocrateriform, tube straight, c. 9 mm long, lobes c. 3 mm across; anthers lying towards top of tube
Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers Gynoecium Ovary
Ovary flask-shaped, c. 2 mm long, style c. 7 mm long.
Distribution
Rio de Janeiro and Rio Grande do Sul
Ecology
In hedgerow thickets and shady roadside places. Sea level near the coast in restinga vegetation.
Conservation
Vulnerable. Only two localities for this species, separated by some 1500 km, which except for a few National Parks and conservation areas, is one of the busiest coastal regions of the world. If its range once extended along this length of coastline, then it no longer does, and it may well now be a threatened species.
Note
S. maximiliani and S. hirsutissima are both hairy, while S. laevis, S. restingensis and S. schottiana are all more or less glabrous. S. schottiana can be identified by its much narrower leaves. S. laevis and S. restingensis are similar in appearance, but can be distinguished by the length of the calyx relative to the corolla tube.
[KBu]

Extinction risk predictions for the world's flowering plants to support their conservation (2024). Bachman, S.P., Brown, M.J.M., Leão, T.C.C., Lughadha, E.N., Walker, B.E. https://nph.onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/full/10.1111/nph.19592

Conservation
Predicted extinction risk: not threatened. Confidence: confident
[AERP]

Sandy Atkins. (2005). The Genus Stachytarpheta (Verbenaceae) in Brazil. Kew Bulletin, 60(2), 161-272. Retrieved from http://www.jstor.org/stable/4110935

Type
Bahia, "In fruticetis sabulosis etc." 1836, Blanchet 2410 (syntype G); 1840, Blanchet 3138a (syntype G); 1830, Salzman 437 (syntype G).
Morphology General Habit
Shrub to 1.8 m, branching just below inflorescence
Morphology Stem
Stems woody, rounded, sparsely covered with long, uniseriate hairs
Morphology Leaves
Leaves petiolate, chartaceous, broadly ovate, 2.5 - 7 x 1.7 - 4 cm; apex acute to obtuse; base attenuate decurrent into petiole, margin crenate to serrate; upper surface with sparse indumentum of long uniseriate hairs, lower surface more dense, upper and lower surface with scattered glands
Morphology Reproductive morphology Inflorescences
Inflorescence curving, 11 - 21 cm long x c. 4 mm wide; bracts woody, linear, c. 8 mm long, glabrous except for scattered, long hairs along margin
Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers Calyx
Calyx straight, 10 mm long, 4- toothed with sinus adaxially, outer 2 slightly longer than inner 2, at anthesis teeth sometimes twisted and pressed together, minutely covered with short uniseriate hairs
Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers Corolla
Corolla mauve, pink or blue, hypocrateriform, tube slightly curved, 10 mm long, lobes c. 2 mm across, glandular on inner surface
Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers Androecium Stamens
Stamens inserted at top of tube, anthers lying just below throat
Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers Gynoecium Ovary
Ovary flask-shaped c. 2 mm long, style c. 8 mm long
Morphology Reproductive morphology Fruits
Fruit dark brown, c. 6 mm long.
Distribution
Bahia and Paraíba
Ecology
In clearings and edge of restinga forest.
Conservation
Least concern. Although this is a restinga species, and is found along a busy coastal tourist area, there are many collections, and it seems that this plant is able to survive in spite of human encroachment.
Note
This species is sometimes mistaken for Stachytarpheta jamaicensis, but the leaves are thicker and more hairy, and the four teeth of the calyx are irregular. The type of S. canescens var. elliptica from Bahia, Nova Vicosa, is far more hairy than the other specimens seen, but it definitely belongs here.
[KBu]

Sandy Atkins. (2005). The Genus Stachytarpheta (Verbenaceae) in Brazil. Kew Bulletin, 60(2), 161-272. Retrieved from http://www.jstor.org/stable/4110935

Type
In Brasilia merid. in provincia Goyazana, Meyaponte', Pohl s.n. (holotype W).
Morphology General Habit
Subshrub to 1.5 m, dichotomously branched
Morphology Stem
Stems rounded; upper part covered with soft white hairs, especially at nodes, lower part almost glabrous
Morphology Leaves
Leaves petiolate, often with several younger leaves in axils, chartaceous, broadly ovate, 4 - 10 x 1.8 - 4.5 cm; apex obtuse; base long-attenuate, decurrent into petiole; margin crenate-serrate; upper surface glabrous, scabrous, lower surface glabrous with scattered hairs along nerves
Morphology Reproductive morphology Inflorescences
Inflorescence long, slender, curving, up to 30 cm long by 4 mm wide; bracts woody, narrowly elliptic, 5 mm long, glabrous, margin scarious, ciliate
Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers Calyx
Calyx c. 5 - 6 mm long, with scattered white hairs along nerves, 4 ± equal teeth, and 1 smaller adaxially
Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers Corolla
Corolla blue, hypocrateriform, tube straight, c. 5.5 - 7 mm long, slightly constricted at throat, lobes c. 1 mm across
Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers Androecium Stamens
Stamens almost sessile, attached just below throat
Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers Gynoecium Ovary
Ovary ovoid, 2 mm long, style c. 4 mm long
Morphology Reproductive morphology Fruits
Fruit dark brown, c. 5 mm long.
Distribution
Central and Southern Brazil
Ecology
Cerrado and disturbed cerrado.
Conservation
Least concern.
Note
Schauer (1851) stated of this species: "closely related to S. cayennensis, from which it differs in the large leaves, longer imbricate spikes, longer calyx." There is a marked difference between these taxa in the size of the leaves, and in the length and thickness of the inflorescence spike. The adaxial tooth of the calyx is always present, whereas in specimens of S. cayennensis the adaxial tooth is often missing, and replaced by a sinus. I prefer to distinguish this from the more widespread S. cayennensis.
[KBu]

Extinction risk predictions for the world's flowering plants to support their conservation (2024). Bachman, S.P., Brown, M.J.M., Leão, T.C.C., Lughadha, E.N., Walker, B.E. https://nph.onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/full/10.1111/nph.19592

Conservation
Predicted extinction risk: not threatened. Confidence: confident
[AERP]

Sandy Atkins. (2005). The Genus Stachytarpheta (Verbenaceae) in Brazil. Kew Bulletin, 60(2), 161-272. Retrieved from http://www.jstor.org/stable/4110935

Type
in silvis Catingas dictis in Prov. Bahiensis, Maximilian of Wied s.n (holotype M n.v.; isotype specimen "a" on sheet, BR; photo NY).
Morphology General Habit
Shrub to 1.5 m, dichotomously branched
Morphology Stem
Stems rounded, lightly covered in long hairs
Morphology Leaves
Leaves petiolate, patent, chartaceous, oblong, 2.5 - 8 x 0.8 - 3 cm; apex acute to obtuse; base decurrent into petiole; margin crenate; upper and lower surface sparsely strigose
Morphology Reproductive morphology Inflorescences
Inflorescence up to 23 cm, by c. 5 mm wide, curving; bracts c. 7 mm long, elliptic, subulate at apex, glabrous with ciliate margin
Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers Calyx
Calyx straight, c. 8 mm long with 4 equal teeth and one smaller adaxially, finely covered with white hairs
Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers Corolla
Corolla white, infundibular, tube c. 9 mm long, lobes c. 1 mm across
Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers Androecium Stamens
Stamens inserted at upper part of tube, ± sessile
Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers Gynoecium Ovary
Ovary pyriform
Morphology Reproductive morphology Fruits
Fruit black, c. 4 mm long.
Distribution
Bahia and Goiás
Ecology
Disturbed woodland, low grassland.
Conservation
Least concern.
Note
Stachytarpheta cayennensis, S. polyura and S. lactea are all close morphologically. Stachytarpheta lactea is differentiated by its milky white flowers, and a relatively localised distribution.
[KBu]

Uses

Use Environmental
Environmental uses.
Use Food
Used for food.
Use Materials
Used as material.
Use Medicines
Medical uses.
Use Social
Social uses.
[UPFC]

Use Medicines Unspecified Medicinal Disorders
Medicinal (State of the World's Plants 2016, Instituto Humboldt 2014).
[UPB]

Common Names

Spanish
Verbena, verbena negra, rinchao, sacha verbena.

Sources

  • Angiosperm Extinction Risk Predictions v1

    • Angiosperm Threat Predictions
    • http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0
  • Catálogo de Plantas y Líquenes de Colombia

    • http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-sa/3.0
  • Colombian resources for Plants made Accessible

    • ColPlantA 2021. Published on the Internet at http://colplanta.org
    • https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/
  • Flora Zambesiaca

    • Flora Zambesiaca
    • http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-sa/3.0
  • Flora of West Tropical Africa

    • Flora of West Tropical Africa
  • Herbarium Catalogue Specimens

    • 'The Herbarium Catalogue, Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew. Published on the Internet http://www.kew.org/herbcat [accessed on Day Month Year]'. Please enter the date on which you consulted the system.
    • Digital Image © Board of Trustees, RBG Kew http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0/
  • IUCN Categories

    • IUCN Red List of Threatened Species
    • http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-sa/3.0
  • Kew Backbone Distributions

    • The International Plant Names Index and World Checklist of Vascular Plants 2024. Published on the Internet at http://www.ipni.org and https://powo.science.kew.org/
    • © Copyright 2023 World Checklist of Vascular Plants. http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0
  • Kew Bulletin

    • Kew Bulletin
    • http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-sa/3.0
  • Kew Names and Taxonomic Backbone

    • The International Plant Names Index and World Checklist of Vascular Plants 2024. Published on the Internet at http://www.ipni.org and https://powo.science.kew.org/
    • © Copyright 2023 International Plant Names Index and World Checklist of Vascular Plants. http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0
  • Kew Science Photographs

    • Copyright applied to individual images
  • Universidad Nacional de Colombia

    • ColPlantA database
    • http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-sa/3.0
  • Useful Plants and Fungi of Colombia

    • http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-sa/3.0
  • Useful Plants of Boyacá Project

    • ColPlantA database
    • http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-sa/3.0
    • http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0/