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Achyranthes aspera

L. (1753)

This name is accepted

Kingdom: Viridiplantae Phylum: Magnoliophyta Class/Clade: Eudicot-CoreEudicot Order: Caryophyllales Family: Amaranthaceae Genus: Achyranthes

chaff-flower, devil's horsewhip

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Description

Key Characters:

Growth Form: Annual or perennial herbs.

Stems: Sometimes suffrutescent at base, stems erect to decumbent, 0.2–2 m long.

Roots:

Leaves: Leaves simple. Opposite. Blades obovate to orbicular, rarely elliptic–obovate or obovate, (2–)3–12(–16) cm long, 1.3–6 cm wide. Surfaces subglabrous to moderately or rarely densely strigose, especially on lower surface. Margins usually entire or nearly so. Petiolate. Stipules absent.

Flowers: Flowers in spikes at first congested, becoming open, 10–45 cm long, the flowers usually 3–10 mm apart, the rachis moderately to densely villous, peduncles 1–7.5 cm long. Flowers bisexual (perfect). Subtended by a white, lanceolate to broadly ovate, flexible, spine–tipped bract 1.7–5 mm long, bracteoles 1.5–4.5 mm long, spine–tipped. Calyx of 5 sepals, sepals subequal to unequal, 3–7 mm long, apex acute. Corolla (petals) absent. Stamens 2–5, connate at base; anthers dithecal. Ovary superior; ovule 1; style slender; stigma capitate.

Fruit: Utricles 2–3 mm long. Seeds 1 per fruit; the surface usually lustrous; endosperm essentially absent.

Ploidy: 2n = 14; 36; 42; 48; 84; 96

Habitat: Naturalized in low elevation; open; dry; disturbed habitats; such as along roadsides.

Elevation Range: Low elevations.

Historical Distribution

Images

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Uses and Culture

USES

Natural History

Statewide Status

Naturalized

Island Status

O'ahu Naturalized
Molokai Naturalized
Kamole(Laysan Island) Naturalized
Lana'i Potentially naturalizing
Maui Naturalized
Hawai'i Naturalized

Dispersal Agents

Birds
Other Animals

Pollinators

Bibliography

Name Published In: Sp. Pl.: 204 (1753)

Occurrences

SNo. Scientific Name Locality Habitat Basis of Record Description Recorded By Record Number Island Source Date
1 Achyranthes aspera Lualualei Coral plain. Preserved_Specimen Forbes, C.N. 1916 Oahu BISH 1914-07-01
2 Achyranthes aspera Laysan Scarce. Preserved_Specimen 1-3' ht. Bryan, W.A. Laysan Island BISH 1902-07-31
3 Achyranthes aspera Honouliuli Marshy area. Preserved_Specimen Inflorescence bristly. Shinbara, B. Oahu BISH 1962-06-26
4 Achyranthes aspera Mokuleia In thicket at base of hill. Preserved_Specimen Flowers roseate. St.John, H. 14072 Oahu BISH 1934-02-04
5 Achyranthes aspera Makaha, Makaha Valley near Kepuhi Pt Prosopis forest just above beach. Preserved_Specimen Fosberg, F.R. 10520 Oahu BISH 1933-04-23
6 Achyranthes aspera Waiahole, near Kam Hwy Common in lightly shaded pasture. Preserved_Specimen Sub shrub w/gray-green foliage. Herbst, D.R. 5343 Oahu BISH 1975-06-02
7 Achyranthes aspera Below Ewa Coral plane. Preserved_Specimen Forbes, C.N. 233 Oahu BISH 1916-03-14
8 Achyranthes aspera Ewa coral plain, near USCG station, magnetic station, Honouliuli Dry coral flat. Preserved_Specimen Spreading almost prostrate, tips of spokes reddish. Fosberg, F.R. 12804 Oahu BISH 1936-01-12
9 Achyranthes aspera Back of Barbers Pt Coral plain. Preserved_Specimen Rock, J.F.C. 17035 Oahu BISH 1919-11-01
10 Achyranthes aspera Tantalus Dr. ca. 1.5km above housing development Shady roadside Preserved_Specimen Abundant Faccenda, K. 1858 Oahu BISH 2021-05-22
11 Achyranthes aspera 1 1/8 mi S of Maili-Lualualei Along roadway, top of beach. Preserved_Specimen Cowan, R.S. 493 Oahu BISH 1946-12-15
12 Achyranthes aspera Waianae Arid plain on way to Kolekole Pass. Preserved_Specimen Degener, O. 1552 Oahu BISH 1923-02-19
13 Achyranthes aspera Makua Valley By sea. Preserved_Specimen Munro, G.C. 1 Oahu BISH 1950-12-04
14 Achyranthes aspera SW of Dillingham Ranch, Kawaihapai Pasture. Preserved_Specimen Weed. Degener, O. 11060 Oahu BISH 1937-03-12
15 Achyranthes aspera South Point (Ka Lae) Kau District growing beside rock wall in grassland with Setaria verticillata dominant Preserved_Specimen Shrub Corn, C. 268 Hawaii BISH 1979-10-30
16 Achyranthes aspera Honolulu, Ward St, Old Plantation In bulldozed, turned-over soil. Preserved_Specimen Small, erect herb 1' high. Pearsall, G.A. 478 Oahu BISH 1960-02-17
17 Achyranthes aspera Spreckelsville, Stable Rd., along entrance to bike path. Dry lowland coastal scrub with Leucaena and Megathyrsus Preserved_Specimen One plant that had gone to seed. Sparingly Naturalized. Starr, F. 13011601 Maui BISH 2013-01-16
18 Achyranthes aspera Near Lahilahi, Waianae Coast Arid plain. Preserved_Specimen Degener, O. 8671 Oahu BISH 1925-01-01
19 Achyranthes aspera Waimea Valley Roadside thicket. Preserved_Specimen Degener, O. 11056 Oahu BISH 1937-03-06
20 Achyranthes aspera Back of Barbers Pt Coral plain. Preserved_Specimen Rock, J.F.C. 17035 Oahu BISH 1919-11-01
21 Achyranthes aspera Laysan Preserved_Specimen Bryan, W.A. Laysan Island BISH 1903-04-01
22 Achyranthes aspera Kaohikaipu, Oahu on the west side of islet Preserved_Specimen Rare. A 3 x 3 m. patch on the west side of islet. Starr, F. 5022412 Oahu BISH 2005-02-24
23 Achyranthes aspera Kau District, Land of Kamaoa Puueo, within Coast Guard enclosure, Ka Lae Preserved_Specimen Sub-shrub w/gray-green foliage. Herbst, D.R. 5836 Hawaii BISH 1976-04-21
24 Achyranthes aspera Makaha, Waianae Range Pasture near sea. Preserved_Specimen Degener, O. 2099 Oahu BISH 1925-12-01
25 Achyranthes aspera 19 mile marker east of Kaunakakai, 0.5 mile inland from coast Roadside weed. Preserved_Specimen Matayoshi, N. Molokai BISH 1998-05-28
26 Achyranthes aspera Kau District, Land of Kamaoa Puueo, within Coast Guard enclosure, Ka Lae Preserved_Specimen Sub-shrub w/gray-green foliage. Herbst, D.R. 5836 Hawaii BISH 1976-04-21
27 Achyranthes aspera Maile roadside Preserved_Specimen Kerr, M. 370 Oahu BISH 1945-09-15
28 Achyranthes aspera [Hawaiian Islands; U.S.A.; O`ahu; Hawai`i; Honolulu] Preserved_Specimen Lau, J. 2585 Oahu BISH 1986-06-30
29 Achyranthes aspera Waimea, Waimea R., roadside Preserved_Specimen Fosberg, F.R. 8875 Oahu BISH 1932-11-20
30 Achyranthes aspera Waianae Preserved_Specimen Topping, D.L. 3105 Oahu BISH 1926-04-19
31 Achyranthes aspera Kealia trail Preserved_Specimen Bennett, T. 255 Oahu BISH 1982-03-25
32 Achyranthes aspera Barbers Point Preserved_Specimen Beardsley, J.W. Oahu BISH 1959-04-01
33 Achyranthes aspera Ewa Beach, Chun's pasture Preserved_Specimen Woolford, H.A. Oahu BISH 1956-12-15
34 Achyranthes aspera Barbers Pt Preserved_Specimen Caum, E.L. Oahu BISH 1946-03-12
35 Achyranthes aspera Manana, Oahu shore and ridges Preserved_Specimen Occasional to common. Found near shore, on east slope and on ridges. Starr, F. 5022510 Oahu BISH 2005-02-25
36 Achyranthes aspera Ewa Beach, lighthouse Preserved_Specimen Woolford, H.A. Oahu BISH 1956-12-16
37 Achyranthes aspera Waianae Plantation Preserved_Specimen Swezey, O.H. 37 Oahu BISH 1925-09-01
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