img

Strobilanthes reptans

(G.Forst.) Moylan ex Y.F.Deng & J.R.I.Wood (2011)

This name is accepted

Kingdom: Viridiplantae Phylum: Magnoliophyta Class/Clade: Eudicot-Asterids Order: Lamiales Family: Acanthaceae Genus: Strobilanthes

red flame

Description

Key Characters:

Growth Form: Perennial herbs.

Stems: Stems procumbent, often rooting at the nodes, 3–8 dm long.

Roots:

Leaves: Leaves simple. Opposite and decussate (pairs of leaves alternating 90 degrees between nodes). Blades oblong–elliptic to narrowly ovate, 4–15 cm long, 1.6–4.3 cm wide. Base truncate or rounded. Surfaces moderately hispidulous, green to purple–tinged or dark purple, especially on lower surface. Margins crenulate. Petioles 0.5-8 cm, pubescent, glabrescent. Stipules absent.

Flowers: Flowers in racemes. Flowers bisexual (perfect), subtended by spatulate bracts 15–25 mm long, pedicels 6–7 mm long. Calyx 5-lobed, the lobes linear. Corolla of 5 petals, tubular, the lobes spreading. White, ca. 10 mm long. Stamens 4, in pairs, inserted on the corolla alternate with the lobes, sometimes 1 or more reduced to staminodes; anthers dithecal, opening by longitudinal slits. Ovary superior, 2-carpellate; ovule placentation axile; style filiform, simple.

Fruit: Capsules with two cells; narrowly ellipsoid; ca. 6–7 mm long. Seeds 6–12; On small hooked stalks (modified funiculus) that ejects the seeds from the capsule; embryos usually large; endosperm absent.

Ploidy:

Habitat: Naturalized in lawns.

Elevation Range:

Historical Distribution

Synonyms (39)

Hemigraphis acaulis Bremek. (1948)
Hemigraphis batantensis Bremek. (1957)
Hemigraphis cardiophylla Quisumb. (1930)
Hemigraphis chamaedrys Bremek. (1944)
Hemigraphis diffusa Bremek. (1952)
Hemigraphis dorensis var. pilosibracteata Bremek. (1957)
Hemigraphis keiensis Bremek. (1944)
Hemigraphis lamiifolia Bremek. (1957)
Hemigraphis lanaensis Bremek. (1944)
Hemigraphis nemorosa (Zoll. & Moritzi) Boerl. (1899)
Hemigraphis oblongifolia Merr. (1916)
Hemigraphis pacifica Hosok. (1935)
Hemigraphis parabolica (Nees) Fern.-Vill. (1880)
Hemigraphis parvifolia Bremek. (1952)
Hemigraphis physalifolia Bremek. (1957)
Hemigraphis polillensis Bremek. (1952)
Hemigraphis primulifolia (Nees) Fern.-Vill. (1880)
Hemigraphis rapifera Hallier f. ex Koord. (1898)
Hemigraphis reptans (G.Forst.) T.Anderson ex Hemsl. (1885)
Hemigraphis reptans var. glaucescens Hallier f. (1897)
Hemigraphis reptans var. gracilis Hallier f. (1897)
Hemigraphis reptans var. primulifolia (Nees) Hallier f. (1897)
Hemigraphis robinsonii Bremek. (1944)
Hemigraphis saxicola Bremek. (1957)
Hemigraphis solomonensis Bremek. (1944)
Hemigraphis sorongensis Bremek. (1957)
Hemigraphis sublobata Elmer (1909)
Hemigraphis suborbicularis S.Moore (1920)
Hemigraphis tayabensis Bremek. (1944)
Hemigraphis undulata Bremek. (1942)
Hemigraphis villosa Bremek. (1944)
Hemigraphis waigeensis Bremek. (1957)
Ruellia humifusa Pers. (1806)
Ruellia nemorosa Zoll. & Moritzi (1845)
Ruellia parabolica Nees (1847)
Ruellia primulifolia Nees (1843)
Ruellia reptans G.Forst. (1786)
Strobilanthes primulifolia (Nees) Y.F.Deng & J.R.I.Wood (2010)
Strobilanthes tawadana Ohwi (1936)

Uses and Culture

USES

  • Yes

Natural History

Statewide Status

Naturalized

Island Status

Kaua'i Naturalized
O'ahu Naturalized
Molokai Naturalized
Maui Naturalized
Hawai'i Naturalized

Dispersal Agents


Pollinators

Notes

  • Description digitized by Pumehana Imada
  • Native range unknown, but originally described from Aru Island off the coast of New Guinea; in Hawai‘i a lawn weed.

Bibliography

Name Published In: Fl. China 19: 390 (2011)

Other References

Wagner et al. 1990:171 (K, O, H [as Hemigraphis reptans]); Oppenheimer et al. 1999:7 (EM); Oppenheimer & Bartlett 2002:1 (WM); Staples et al. 2002:3 (Mo); Staples & Herbst 2005:86 (DESCR); Hu et al. 2011:390 (Syn. H. reptans = S. reptans)

Staples, G., & Herbst, D. R. (2005). A Tropical Garden Flora. Bishop Museum Press.

Wagner, W. L., Herbst, D. R., & Sohmer, S. H. (1999). Manual of the Flowering Plants of Hawai'i, Vols. 1 and 2 (No. Edn 2). University of Hawai'i and Bishop Museum Press.

Occurrences

SNo. Scientific Name Locality Habitat Basis of Record Description Recorded By Record Number Island Source Date
1 Strobilanthes reptans Kawaihau District. Wailua Homesteads, Nounou Trail West Entrance from Lokilani Road. In Pine Tree forest area. Growing on the ground in the Pine Tree Forest area. Plants scattered off trail in a 10 x 10 ft area. W/ Araucaria columnaris Preserved_Specimen Lvs bright purple below, above dark along veins and light green inside venation. Venation reticulate, hairs on both sides of leaf and stems. Flower small white. Tangalin, N. 5179 Kauai BISH 2021-04-30
2 Strobilanthes reptans Lyon Arboretum, Honolulu. Upper Lawn Makai Common weed growing throughout lawn areas. Preserved_Specimen Very low growing herb with oblong leaves. Flowers white to yellow. Spence, G. 406 Oahu BISH 1976-10-01
3 Strobilanthes reptans Foster Gardens, Honolulu Ground cover. Preserved_Specimen Weedlike plant, spreading rapidly. Potter, C. Oahu BISH 1957-11-27
4 Strobilanthes reptans Tantalus Dr., vacinity of arboretum trail Shady roadside Preserved_Specimen Spreading via rhizomes. Flower small, ca .8cm, white, readily falling Faccenda, K. 1853 Oahu BISH 2021-05-22
5 Strobilanthes reptans Honolulu: Manoa Valley; Lyon Arboretum; Hodge Podge area Used as ground cover under coffee trees and Caryota palms. Preserved_Specimen Creeping herb. Leaves purple, flowers white with purple bracts. Teraoka, W. 7 Oahu BISH 1979-04-17
6 Strobilanthes reptans Lyon Arboretum, Honolulu. Harrison area Very wet site. Semi-shady. Preserved_Specimen Flowers creamy white. Leaves tinged purple, especially on underside. Baker, R.F. 85 Oahu BISH 1975-04-25
7 Strobilanthes reptans Honolulu, Foster Botanic Garden In a well-watered grass lawn, in partial shade. Preserved_Specimen Corolla white or white with a pinkish tinge, with reddish-purple striations both within and without corolla. Lau, J. 1388 Oahu BISH 1985-09-04
8 Strobilanthes reptans East Maui, Hana District, Honolewa Stream. Locally common near small waterfall along perennial stream in alien dominated forest. Vegetation: Mangifera, Aleurites, Spathodea, Ardisia, Pisonia, Angiopteris Preserved_Specimen Leaves purple on abaxial surface. Oppenheimer, H.L. 101719 Maui BISH 2017-10-09
9 Strobilanthes reptans East Maui, Hana District, Kalahu Point, PTBG Kahanu Garden, between Pandanus forest and lawn area around Piilanihale Heiau Disturbed area. Preserved_Specimen Low, spreading herb with erect inflorescence stalks. Leaves dark green above, purple below. Flynn, T.W. 2440 Maui BISH 1987-10-15
10 Strobilanthes reptans North shore, Waiehu landshelf Growing in disturbed area with Pandanus, Alocasia, and Manihot. Preserved_Specimen Small, nearly prostrate herb. Anderson, S.J. Molokai BISH 1987-09-08
11 Strobilanthes reptans W Maui, Lahaina District, Lahaina town, Wainehe St. between Hale ST. and Dickenson St Growing in lawn on both sides of sidewalk and lower part of adjacent rock wall. Preserved_Specimen Leaves purple underneath; flower white with purple lines. Oppenheimer, H.L. 109909 Maui BISH 1999-10-22
12 Strobilanthes reptans Captain Cook; Amy B. H. Greenwell Ethnobotanical Gardens Abandoned coffee plantation at one side of Garden, growing in yard of house, in shade of white-flowered Calliandra bush. Preserved_Specimen Creeping groundcover, leaves purple-red on lower side, deep green above, flowers white. Herbst, D.R. 9286 Hawaii BISH 1991-01-11
13 Strobilanthes reptans Ahuimanu. Ahupuaa of Kahaluu. Windward central Koolau mountains. Growing along Ahuimanu stream towards the back of Hui Kelu street. Growing with Asplenium nidus, Syzygium mallaccense, Deparia petersennii, Miconia crenata, Christella parasitica, Christella dentata, Hedychium coronarium, Terminalia capitata, Mangifera indica, Psilotum nudum, and others. Preserved_Specimen Small plants with oblong elliptic leaves. Flowers white and decaying. Somewhat delicate and falling off easily. Thomas, M.K. 1131 Oahu BISH 2025-06-01
14 Strobilanthes reptans East Maui, 'Ulaino, along rocky banks of Haleleile Stream Disturbed Pandanus forest. Preserved_Specimen Leaves purple on underside (faded on drying). Oppenheimer, H.L. 320 Maui BISH 1998-06-22
15 Strobilanthes reptans Coelho Way, Honolulu In garden and on lawns. Preserved_Specimen Neal, M.C. Oahu BISH 1964-01-01
16 Strobilanthes reptans East Maui, Keanae, Hana Hwy., Ching's Pond Naturalized. Wet lowland jungle opening with basalt boulders (Ardisia elliptica, Hydrocotyle subthorpioides). Here and there in cracks in lava.l Preserved_Specimen Starr, F. 9070201 Maui BISH 2009-07-02
17 Strobilanthes reptans Honolulu, 3759 Round Top Dr. lawn near edge of forest; with Axonopus fissifolius, Oxalis corniculata; wet Preserved_Specimen stems procumbent, corolla white Ray, G. 44 Oahu BISH 1997-09-01
18 Strobilanthes reptans Lyon Arboretum, Honolulu. Harrison area Very wet site. Semi-shady. Preserved_Specimen Flowers creamy white. Leaves tinged purple, especially on underside. Baker, R.F. 85 Oahu BISH 1975-04-25
19 Strobilanthes reptans Northern Ko'olaus, Kea'aulu stream. UTM 605464, 2394468. Non-native dominated secondary forest. Growing with Psidium cattleianum, Fraxinus. Preserved_Specimen Small herb. Kawelo, K. 345 Oahu BISH 2014-04-10
Back to Top