Spigelia anthelmia

Linnaeus

Sp. Pl. 1: 149. 1753.

Common names: West Indian pinkroot
Weedy
Treatment appears in FNA Volume 14.

Herbs annual, 15–40 cm; rhi­zome absent. Stems 1, sparsely to profusely branched. Cauline leaves: proximals 0 or 1 pair per stem, sessile or petiolate, blade narrowly lanceolate to linear, 1.5–6.3 × 0.4–1.5 cm, base nar­rowly cuneate; distals pseudo­whorled, 2 unequal pairs. Cymes 22–45-flowered. Flowers: calyx lobes lanceolate-subulate, 2–3(–4) mm; corolla white, each lobe with 2 vertical purple stripes, funnelform, 6–9 mm, lobes spreading at anthesis. Capsules 4–5 × 4–7 mm, muricate distally. Seeds 2 mm. 2n = 32.


Phenology: Flowering year-round.
Habitat: Disturbed and cultivated soils, roadsides.
Elevation: 0–200 m.

Distribution

Fla., s Mexico, West Indies (Cayman Islands, Cuba, Dominican Republic, Haiti, Jamaica, Puerto Rico, Virgin Islands), Central America (Belize, Costa Rica, El Salvador, Honduras, Nicaragua, Panama), n South America (French Guiana, Guyana, Suriname, Venezuela), introduced in se Asia (se China, Indonesia), w Africa.

Discussion

Spigelia anthelmia is widely distributed in the sub­tropics and tropics. In Florida, it is restricted to Miami-Dade and Monroe counties. From Costa Rica to South America, it overlaps in range and is commonly confused with its close relative S. hamelioides Kunth (K. R. Gould 1997; A. V. Popovkin et al. 2011).

Selected References

None.

Lower Taxa

None.
... more about "Spigelia anthelmia"
Katherine G. Mathews +
Linnaeus +
West Indian pinkroot +
Fla. +, s Mexico +, West Indies (Cayman Islands +, Cuba +, Dominican Republic +, Haiti +, Jamaica +, Puerto Rico +, Virgin Islands) +, Central America (Belize +, Costa Rica +, El Salvador +, Honduras +, Nicaragua +, Panama) +, n South America (French Guiana +, Guyana +, Suriname +, Venezuela) +, introduced in se Asia (se China +, Indonesia) +  and w Africa. +
0–200 m. +
Disturbed and cultivated soils, roadsides. +
Flowering year-round. +
Spigelia anthelmia +
Spigelia +
species +