Spermacoce prostrata

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Spermacoce prostrata
Sper pros.jpg
Photo by Shirley Denton (Copyrighted, use by photographer’s permission only), Nature Photography by Shirley Denton
Scientific classification
Kingdom: Plantae
Division: Magnoliophyta - Flowering plants
Class: Magnoliopsida – Dicotyledons
Order: Rubiales
Family: Rubiaceae
Genus: Spermacoce
Species: S. prostrata
Binomial name
Spermacoce prostrata
Aubl.
Sper pros dist.jpg
Natural range of Spermacoce prostrata from USDA NRCS Plants Database.

Common name: prostrate false buttonweed

Taxonomic notes

Synonyms: Borreria ocymoides auct. non (Burm. f.) DC.; Spermacoce ocymoides auct. non Burm. f.; Spermacoce repens auct. non (DC.) Sessé & Moc., from USDA NRCS Plants Database.

Description

Prostrate or decumbent annual herbs to 40 cm tall, branching mostly near the bases, leafy stems 0.4-2 mm thick, glabrous or rarely with thin hairs to 0.8 mm long, with 4 longitudinal ribs 0.1-0.3 mm high; stipule sheaths 1-3 mm high, 1.5-6 mm broad, with 3-9 awns 1-2 mm long. Leaves opposite or pseudoverticillate with 2-4 smaller axillary leaves at each node, sessile or subsessile; leaf blades 10-35 mm long, 2-18 mm broad, elliptic to narrowly elliptic or elliptic-lanceolate, apex acute (obtuse), base cuneate and decurrent on petiole, drying membranaceous to chartaceous, greenish or yellowish brown, glabrous or with minute (0.2 mm) stiff hairs above and below, scabrous on the margin, 2º veins 2-4/side. Inflorescences mostly axillary (sometimes terminal), 2-4 mm high and 3-8 mm broad, flowers few (3-8) to many (ca. 20) and sessile. Flowers with hypanthium 0.5-1 mm long, calyx lobes usually 2 larger and 2 smaller, 0.6-1 mm long; corolla white, less than 3 mm long. Fruits ca. 2 mm long, body of the fruit 0.8-1.2 mm long; seeds 0.7-1.2 mm long, 0.3-0.5 mm broad, reticulate, often with longitudinal ridges (x 10) and distinctive transversely elongated pits (x40), dark reddish brown[1].

Distribution

It is found in Florida, Alabama and Mississippi. Outside of the United States it is found in the west Indies and South America[2].

Ecology

Habitat

In the Coastal Plain in Florida, S. prostrata occurs in river floodplain forests, longleaf pine woods and powerline corridors. It has been observed growing in loamy sand[3].

Phenology

Flowers and fruits in October (FSU Herbarium).

Pollination

The following Hymenoptera families and species were observed visiting flowers of Spermacoce prostrata at Archbold Biological Station: [4]

Halictidae: Lasioglossum lepidii

Sphecidae: Anacrabro ocellatus, Cerceris blakei

Vespidae: Leptochilus alcolhuus, Pachodynerus erynnis, P. nasidens, Parancistrocerus salcularis rufulus, Stenodynerus fundatiformis

Conservation and management

Cultivation and restoration

Photo Gallery

References and notes

  1. Berger, W., ed. 1993. Flora Costaricensis. Fieldiana Botany New Series, No. 33: Family #202 Rubiaceae.
  2. [[1]]Saint Lucian Plants. Accessed: March 17, 2016
  3. Florida State University Robert K. Godfrey Herbarium database. URL: http://herbarium.bio.fsu.edu. Last accessed: November 2015. Collectors: Loran C. Anderson, Robert K. Godfrey. States and Counties: Florida: Calhoun, Franklin, Liberty, Wakulla. Compiled by Tall Timbers Research Station and Land Conservancy.
  4. Deyrup, M.A. and N.D. 2015. Database of observations of Hymenoptera visitations to flowers of plants on Archbold Biological Station, Florida, USA.