Boerhavia erecta L.

Nyctaginaceae, B. L. Stannard. Flora Zambesiaca 9:1. 1988

Morphology General Habit

Annual or perennial herbs, branching freely from base, spreading.

Morphology Stem

Stems prostrate, decumbent or ascending, glabrescent to pubescent, often with scattered longer septate hairs particularly around nodes, sometimes viscid.

Morphology Leaves

Leaves 1.3–6.5 × 0.4–6 cm., narrowly to broadly ovate, base subcordate, rounded, more or less truncate or broadly cuneate, apex acute to obtuse, sometimes apiculate, glabrescent to sparsely pubescent, discolourous, usually distinctly reddish-brown glandular punctate on both surfaces; petioles up to 2 cm. long, pubescent or sometimes pilose.

Morphology Reproductive morphology Inflorescences

Inflorescences terminal, cymose, ultimately diffusely paniculate; peduncles glabrous to puberulous, sometimes glandular.

Morphology Reproductive morphology Inflorescences Bracteoles

Bracteoles 1–1.5 mm. long, lanceolate, ciliate.

Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers

Flowers usually 2–5 (10) per cluster, sessile or with pedicels up to 2 mm. long.

Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers Perianth

Perianth 1.5–3 mm. long, glabrous, lower portion, 5-ribbed, upper portion 0.8–1.5 mm. long, campanulate, magenta, pink, mauve or white.

Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers Androecium Stamens

Stamens 2–3, 2–2.5 mm. long, subequal, slightly exerted.

Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers Gynoecium Pistil

Ovary 0.4–0.5 mm. long, glabrous; style 1.25–2 mm. long, slightly exerted.

Morphology Reproductive morphology Fruits

Anthocarps 3–4 × 1–1.2 mm., turbinate, apex broadly obtuse or truncate, eglandular, glabrous; ribs 5, acute.

Distribution

Biogeografic region: Caribbean. Elevation range: 5–1088 m a.s.l. Native to Colombia. Colombian departments: Antioquia, Atlántico, Bolívar, Cauca, Cesar, Cundinamarca, Magdalena, Nariño, San Andrés y Providencia, Santander, Sucre, Tolima, Valle del Cauca.

Habit

Herb.

Conservation

National Red List of Colombia (2021): Potential LC.

Ecology

Habitat according IUCN Habitats Classification: forest and woodland, savanna, shrubland, artificial - terrestrial.

Vernacular

Rodilla de pollo

M. Thulin et al. Flora of Somalia, Vol. 1-4 [updated 2008] https://plants.jstor.org/collection/FLOS

Morphology General Habit

Erect or ascending annual or short-lived perennial; lower parts thinly puberulous, upper parts glabrous

Morphology Leaves Petiole

Petiole 1–3.5(–4) cm long; leaf-blade broadly lanceolate to ovate, 2.5–4.5(–8) x 1.5–2.5(–6.5) cm, rounded to subcordate at the base, subacute at the apex

Morphology Reproductive morphology Inflorescences

Flowers in erect, diffuse terminal panicles up to 30 x 20 cm; all bracts very small; ultimate unit of inflorescence a pedunculate 3–6-flowered umbel, often with solitary flower inserted on peduncle; pedicels up to 2.5 mm long in fruit

Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers Perianth

Perianth-limb white to pale pink, c. 1–1.5 mm long

Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers Androecium Stamens

Stamens 2–3

Morphology Reproductive morphology Fruits

Anthocarp obconical, sharply 5-sided/5-ribbed with subtruncate tip, 3–3.5 mm long, glabrous.

Distribution

C2; S1–3 widespread tropical weed probably originating in the New World.

Ecology

Altitude range 30–400 m.

Vernacular

Anyah (Somali).

Nyctaginaceae, Christopher Whitehouse. Flora of Tropical East Africa. 1996

Morphology General Habit

Annual, ascending or erect herb up to 1 m., with a stout rootstock.

Morphology Stem

Stems fleshy, becoming woody towards the base, green, often flushed with red, glabrescent to pubescent, branching mainly from the base, the nodes swollen.

Morphology Leaves

Leaves broadly ovate to lanceolate, up to 7.5×7 cm., green above, greyish-white beneath, sometimes tinged purple, the base truncate to cuneate, the apex rounded to acute or rarely acuminate, margins sinuate, occasionally red tinged.

Morphology Reproductive morphology Inflorescences

Inflorescence a large diffuse terminal panicle up to 65 cm. long, the individual cymes (1–)4–5(–8)-flowered.

Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers Perianth

Perianth 1.5–3.5 mm. long, up to 2 mm. wide; upper portion white to pale pink, sometimes with darker stripes, 1–1.5 mm. long.

Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers Androecium Stamens

Stamens 2(–3), slightly exserted.

Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers Gynoecium Pistil

Ovary ± 0.5 mm.; style 1–2 mm. long, slightly exserted.

Morphology Reproductive morphology Fruits

Anthocarp obconical, 3–4×1–1.5 mm., 5-ribbed, truncate at the apex, glabrous.

Figures

Fig. 1/5.

Habitat

Disturbed sandy and rocky soil in open bushland, waste ground, cultivation and on roadsides; 0–1450 m.

Distribution

pantropical weed K1 K2 K3 K4 K5 K6 K7 T1 T2 T3 T4 T5 T6 T7