Code
HPYSP
Growth form
broadleaf
Biological cycle
annual
Habitat
terrestrial
HPYSP
Growth form
broadleaf
Biological cycle
annual
Habitat
terrestrial
🗒 Synonyms
| synonym | Cantinoa americana (Aubl.) Harley & J.F.B.Pastore |
| synonym | Hyptis americana (Aubl.) Urb. [Illegitimate] |
| synonym | Hyptis gonocephala C.Wright ex Griseb. |
| synonym | Hyptis hispida Poepp. ex J.A.Schmidt |
| synonym | Hyptis lophantha Mart. ex Benth. |
| synonym | Hyptis madagascariensis Bojer |
| synonym | Hyptis menthodora Schrank ex J.A.Schmidt |
| synonym | Hyptis pohliana Jacq. ex Benth. |
| synonym | Hyptis subverticillata Andersson |
| synonym | Leucas microscypha Baker |
| synonym | Mesosphaerum gonocephalum (C.Wright ex Griseb.) Kuntze |
| synonym | Mesosphaerum lophanthus (Mart. ex Benth.) Kuntze |
| synonym | Mesosphaerum menthodorum (Schrank ex J.A.Schmidt) Kuntze |
| synonym | Mesosphaerum spicigerum (Lam.) Kuntze |
| synonym | Mesosphaerum subverticillatum (Andersson) Kuntze |
| synonym | Nepeta americana Aubl. |
| synonym | Pycnanthemum elongatum Blanco |
🗒 Common Names
| Malgache |
|
| Other |
|
📚 Overview
Description
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Global description
Hyptis spicigera is a plant with a strong aromatic smell. It is erect, candelabra shaped. The stem is quadrangular and bears simple opposite and decussate leaves. The leaves are lance-shaped and are carried by a narrow stalk. The flowers are assembled in dense terminal spikes. They consist of a calyx in tube with 5 narrow tines, a white corolla of 4 similar rounded lobes, 4 stamens and 4 free ovaries at the base of a common style. The four seeds are ellipsoidal.
Cotyledons
The cotyledons are very characteristics. The lamina forms a small rounded spatula whose base is flat and perfectly perpendicular to the short petiole. The lamina measures 3 mm long and 5 mm wide. The petiole reaches 3 mm long. Before the advent of the first pair of leaves, petioles are very small and the lamina of the two cotyledons are side by side.
First leaves
The first leaves are simple and opposite, decussate along a square stem. The lamina is lanceolate, carried by a narrow and long petiole as a third of the leaf blade. The margin of the leaf blade is serrated on the upper two thirds. The pairs of terminal leaves are purple tinged at the base of the blade. The leaves give off an aromatic scent when rubbed.
General habit
Plant with upright growth habit. The ramifications are straightened vertically giving the plant an overall shape of candelabra. It measures 50 cm to 1 m high.
Underground system
Taproot.
Stem
The stem is full and of quadrangular section. The four corners are rounded and slightly scabrous, the faces are highly depressed.
Leaf
The leaves are simple and opposite. They are carried by a narrow petiole, 1 to 4 cm long. The lamina is lanceolate and measure 7-10 cm long and 1 to 3 cm wide. The top and base are acute. . The margin is entire in the lower third and serrated in the two upper thirds. The blade is covered with 4-6 lateral arcuate veins, translucent on the upper face and prominent on the underside. The leaf blade is glabrous, the bottom surface is riddled with tiny green glands. The leaves are green, but the base of the leaf blade is usually tinged with purple for the leaves at the top of the plant.
Inflorescence
The very small flowers are assembled in terminal inflorescence in the shape of dense cylindrical spike, sometimes discontinuous at the base, and can reach up to 2 to 10 cm long. Each flower is underpinned by a long linear leafy bracteole of 3 mm and strongly ciliated.
Flower
The calyx is a pubescent tube with 5 very narrow tines. It is 5 mm long and quickly papery. It is covered by 10 longitudinal lines. The corolla is a tube ending with 5 rounded, similar lobes, barely exceeding the tines of the calyx. It is white with purple spots on the lobes. The 4 stamens and stigma barely exceeds the top of the corolla. At the base of style are 4 free ovaries each giving a seed.
Fruit
The fruit is a small capsule that remains at the bottom of the calyx. Each contains a seed.
Seed
The seed is ellipsoidal, 1.5 mm long. The dorsal surface is convex and the ventral face is bi-concave.
Hyptis spicigera is a plant with a strong aromatic smell. It is erect, candelabra shaped. The stem is quadrangular and bears simple opposite and decussate leaves. The leaves are lance-shaped and are carried by a narrow stalk. The flowers are assembled in dense terminal spikes. They consist of a calyx in tube with 5 narrow tines, a white corolla of 4 similar rounded lobes, 4 stamens and 4 free ovaries at the base of a common style. The four seeds are ellipsoidal.
Cotyledons
The cotyledons are very characteristics. The lamina forms a small rounded spatula whose base is flat and perfectly perpendicular to the short petiole. The lamina measures 3 mm long and 5 mm wide. The petiole reaches 3 mm long. Before the advent of the first pair of leaves, petioles are very small and the lamina of the two cotyledons are side by side.
First leaves
The first leaves are simple and opposite, decussate along a square stem. The lamina is lanceolate, carried by a narrow and long petiole as a third of the leaf blade. The margin of the leaf blade is serrated on the upper two thirds. The pairs of terminal leaves are purple tinged at the base of the blade. The leaves give off an aromatic scent when rubbed.
General habit
Plant with upright growth habit. The ramifications are straightened vertically giving the plant an overall shape of candelabra. It measures 50 cm to 1 m high.
Underground system
Taproot.
Stem
The stem is full and of quadrangular section. The four corners are rounded and slightly scabrous, the faces are highly depressed.
Leaf
The leaves are simple and opposite. They are carried by a narrow petiole, 1 to 4 cm long. The lamina is lanceolate and measure 7-10 cm long and 1 to 3 cm wide. The top and base are acute. . The margin is entire in the lower third and serrated in the two upper thirds. The blade is covered with 4-6 lateral arcuate veins, translucent on the upper face and prominent on the underside. The leaf blade is glabrous, the bottom surface is riddled with tiny green glands. The leaves are green, but the base of the leaf blade is usually tinged with purple for the leaves at the top of the plant.
Inflorescence
The very small flowers are assembled in terminal inflorescence in the shape of dense cylindrical spike, sometimes discontinuous at the base, and can reach up to 2 to 10 cm long. Each flower is underpinned by a long linear leafy bracteole of 3 mm and strongly ciliated.
Flower
The calyx is a pubescent tube with 5 very narrow tines. It is 5 mm long and quickly papery. It is covered by 10 longitudinal lines. The corolla is a tube ending with 5 rounded, similar lobes, barely exceeding the tines of the calyx. It is white with purple spots on the lobes. The 4 stamens and stigma barely exceeds the top of the corolla. At the base of style are 4 free ovaries each giving a seed.
Fruit
The fruit is a small capsule that remains at the bottom of the calyx. Each contains a seed.
Seed
The seed is ellipsoidal, 1.5 mm long. The dorsal surface is convex and the ventral face is bi-concave.
Wiktrop
| Attributions | Wiktrop |
| Contributors | |
| Status | UNDER_CREATION |
| Licenses | CC_BY |
| References |
No Data
📚 Nomenclature and Classification
No Data
📚 Natural History
Life Cycle
Life cycle
Annual
Cyclicity
Northern Cameroon: Hyptis spicigera is mainly a weed of middle and end of the crop cycle. Germination begins in the month of June without any particular effect of tillage on its emergence. This phase of germination lasts until September or even into October. A significant germination period is generally observed in August. Hoeing and mounding, during crop cycle, do not appear to influence the germination. It is common to observe young seedlings germinate directly into the inflorescence of the previous year, remaining in the soil. Flowering is induced by shortening of day length at the end of September. Thus, regardless of germination date, all the plants begin to flower at the same time. The flowers appear gradually along the inflorescence at the end of September to November. Flowering is quickly followed by fructification, which ends with the drying of the plant in late November, early in the dry season.
Wiktrop
| Attributions | Wiktrop |
| Contributors | |
| Status | UNDER_CREATION |
| Licenses | CC_BY |
| References |
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Reproduction
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Hyptis spicigera is an annual broadleaf, propagated by seed. Seed in flower heads spread by water. Seeds also dispersed by animals, humans, vehicles (including slashers and when attached to fur, clothing and mud. Often a contaminant in pasture grass seed. As with H. capitata, the seed can remain dormant under the rainforest canopy for many years until an opening is created.
dummy
| Attributions | dummy |
| Contributors | |
| Status | UNDER_CREATION |
| Licenses | CC_BY_SA |
| References |
Morphology
Growth form
Erected
Leaf arrangement
Opposite
Leaf type
Simple
Type of prefoliation
Leaf ratio medium
Equality of opposite leaves
Opposite leaves equal
Latex
Without latex
Stem section
Square
Root type
Taproot
Hollow or solid stem
Solid stem
Stipule type
No stipule
Leaf attachment type
with petiole
Cotyledon type
sagittate
Lamina base
attenuate
Lamina margin
denticulate
Lamina apex
attenuate
acute
Upperface pilosity
Glabrous
Lowerface pilosity
Less hairy
Lowerface hair type
Glands
Simple leaf type
Lamina elliptic
Lamina section
flat
Lamina Veination
in arc
Flower color
White
Inflorescence type
Spike
Glomerulate
Stem pilosity
Glabrous
Life form
Broadleaf plant
Look Alikes
Key identification for Lamiaceae (Based on inflorescence)
Comparison of Hyptis
| H. spicigera | H. pectinata | H. suaveolens | |
| Stem | scabrous | glabrous to slightly pubescent | hispid |
| Leaf form | lanceolate | elliptical oval | broadly ovate |
| Leaf colour | purple base | light green | dark green |
| Leaf texture | soft | rough and scabrid | |
| Leaf (inferior side) | riddled glands | without gland, densely pubescent | without gland, slightly pubescent |
| Inflorescence | in terminal spike | branched panicle | diffuse in small racems |
| Keys of Lamiaceae (stem) | ||||
| Prostrate growth habit | Lamium amplexicaule | |||
| Erect growth habit | Stem with four clear edge | Stem with concave faces | Leonotis nepetifolia | |
| Light grooves on the stem | Hyptis pectinata | |||
| Stem with four rounded angles | Longitudinal furrow marked on the faces of the stem | Palmate lobed leaf | Leonurus sibiricus | |
| Elliptic leaf | Leucas lavandulifolia | |||
| Stem with depressed faces and oval lanceolate leaf | Lamina finely serrated towards the top | Hyptis spicigera | ||
| Lamina with strongly serrated margin | Leucas martinicensis | |||
| Teeth slightly marked on the magin | Ocimum americanum | |||
Key identification for Lamiaceae (Based on size)
| Plant of 1 to 2 m | Inflorescence in panicule | Hyptis pectinata | |
| inflorescence axillary glomerulus | Leonotis nepetifolia | ||
| Plant of 1 m (or less) | lobed palmate leaf | Leonurus sibiricus | |
| elliptic leaf | Leucas lavandulifolia | ||
| oval leaf | leaf with strongly toothed margins | Leucas martinicensis | |
| finely toothed leaf blade to the top | Hyptis spicigera | ||
| Plant of 20 to 40 m | upright | Ocimum americanum | |
| spreading habit | Lamium amplexicaule | ||
Key identification for Lamiaceae (Based on inflorescence)
| Inflorescence in panicule | Hyptis pectinata | ||
| inflorescence terminal spike | dense spike | Hyptis spicigera | |
| loose spike | Ocimum americanum | ||
| axillary glomerulus | Orange flower | Leonotis nepetifolia | |
| small white flower | Leucas martinicensis | ||
| inflorescence whorled | White flower | Leucas lavandulifolia | |
| pink flower purple | 10-25 flowers per whorl | Leonurus sibiricus | |
| 5-10 flowers per whorl | Lamium amplexicaule | ||
Wiktrop
| Attributions | Wiktrop |
| Contributors | |
| Status | UNDER_CREATION |
| Licenses | CC_BY |
| References |
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Ecology
Widely spread at low altitudes. It occurs in moist soils in bush fallows and by the roadsides.
Northern Cameroon: Hyptis spicigera is a species characteristic of moist soils with high organic content. It is very common and can be very abundant in the Sudanese region where annual rainfall is between 1 200 and 1 500 mm, in cultivated plots on Planosols or alluvium along water streams. In driest region, this species is characteristic of clayey soils to silty clay with high water retention or with a water table near the surface such as vertisols and alluvial deposits.
Comoros: H. spicigera is absent.
Madagascar: H. spicigera is an invasive weed in rice-growing areas at medium and low altitude, in rainfed rice or temporarily flooded humid rice fields (Middle-East, Lac Alaotra plain).
Mauritius: absent.
Reunion: absent.
Seychelles: absent.
Northern Cameroon: Hyptis spicigera is a species characteristic of moist soils with high organic content. It is very common and can be very abundant in the Sudanese region where annual rainfall is between 1 200 and 1 500 mm, in cultivated plots on Planosols or alluvium along water streams. In driest region, this species is characteristic of clayey soils to silty clay with high water retention or with a water table near the surface such as vertisols and alluvial deposits.
Comoros: H. spicigera is absent.
Madagascar: H. spicigera is an invasive weed in rice-growing areas at medium and low altitude, in rainfed rice or temporarily flooded humid rice fields (Middle-East, Lac Alaotra plain).
Mauritius: absent.
Reunion: absent.
Seychelles: absent.
Wiktrop
| Attributions | Wiktrop |
| Contributors | |
| Status | UNDER_CREATION |
| Licenses | CC_BY |
| References |
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No Data
📚 Habitat and Distribution
General Habitat
Habitat
Terrestrial
Description
Geographical distibution
Madagascar
Origin
Hyptis spicigera is a pantropical originating from tropical America (central and North of South America).
Worldwide distribution
A widespread weed in the Guinea-savanna zone.
H. spicigera is now widespread throughout tropical Africa and Asia.
Wiktrop
| Attributions | Wiktrop |
| Contributors | |
| Status | UNDER_CREATION |
| Licenses | CC_BY |
| References |
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No Data
📚 Occurrence
No Data
📚 Demography and Conservation
Risk Statement
Local harmfulness
Burkina Faso: Hyptis spicigera is rare, but abundant when present.
Northern Cameroon: This species is considered as a major regional weed. It is present and often abundant in 45% of cultivated plots in the Sudanese region. It appears in 40% of the plots in the Sudano-Sahelian zone but is rarely abundant. In Sudano-Sahelian zone, it is recorded in only 9% of the plots as its presence is limited to temporarily inundated Vertisols, used for offseason crops. H. spicigera is an important weed of fields, cultivated for many years in traditional or intensive way (labor mechanized ground, strong fertilizer inputs) that does not receive pre-emergence herbicide.
Comoros: absent.
Madagascar: Harmful species for rice in some areas (Middle East, Lac Alaotra plain). The size and the strong smell of the weed are especially troublesome for the implementation of harvesting operations.
Mauritius: absent.
Reunion: absent.
Senegal: H. spicigera is rare, but abundant when present.
Seychelles: absent.
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Global harmfulness
Hyptis spicigera is a weed of roadsides and pastures, considered dangerous to livestock.
Local harmfulness
Burkina Faso: Hyptis spicigera is rare, but abundant when present.
Northern Cameroon: This species is considered as a major regional weed. It is present and often abundant in 45% of cultivated plots in the Sudanese region. It appears in 40% of the plots in the Sudano-Sahelian zone but is rarely abundant. In Sudano-Sahelian zone, it is recorded in only 9% of the plots as its presence is limited to temporarily inundated Vertisols, used for offseason crops. H. spicigera is an important weed of fields, cultivated for many years in traditional or intensive way (labor mechanized ground, strong fertilizer inputs) that does not receive pre-emergence herbicide.
Comoros: absent.
Madagascar: Harmful species for rice in some areas (Middle East, Lac Alaotra plain). The size and the strong smell of the weed are especially troublesome for the implementation of harvesting operations.
Mauritius: absent.
Reunion: absent.
Senegal: H. spicigera is rare, but abundant when present.
Seychelles: absent.
Wiktrop
| Attributions | Wiktrop |
| Contributors | |
| Status | UNDER_CREATION |
| Licenses | CC_BY |
| References |
No Data
📚 Uses and Management
Uses
Food: Used as a food flavouring agent.
Other: Used locally as an insect repellent for protecting cowpea seeds and other grains during storage
Other: Used locally as an insect repellent for protecting cowpea seeds and other grains during storage
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| Attributions | dummy |
| Contributors | |
| Status | UNDER_CREATION |
| Licenses | CC_BY_SA |
| References |
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Management
Global control
For directions on weeding broadleaf annual weeds of irrigated rice and lowland in Africa, visit:
For directions on weeding broadleaf annual weeds of irrigated rice and lowland in Africa, visit:
Wiktrop
| Attributions | Wiktrop |
| Contributors | |
| Status | UNDER_CREATION |
| Licenses | CC_BY |
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No Data
📚 Information Listing
Global Biodiversity Information Facility (GBIF)
Thomas Le Bourgeois
| Attributions | |
| Contributors | |
| Status | UNDER_CREATION |
| Licenses | CC_BY |
| References |
There is content in another language. Please click here to read it. (Français)
References
- Grard, P., Homsombath, K., Kessler, P., Khuon, E., Le Bourgeois, T., Prospéri, J., Risdale, C. 2006. Oswald V.1.0: A multimedia identification system of the major weeds of rice paddy fields of Cambodia and Lao P.D.R. In Cirad [ed.]. Cirad, Montpellier, France. Cdrom. ISBN 978-2-87614-653-2.
- Akobundu I.O. and Agyakwa C.W. (1998). A handbook of West African Weeds. International Institute of Tropical Agriculture, Ibadan, Nigeria 278p.
- Grard, P., T. Le Bourgeois, J. Rodenburg, P. Marnotte, A. Carrara, R. Irakiza, D. Makokha, G. kyalo, K. Aloys, K. Iswaria, N. Nguyen and G. Tzelepoglou (2012). AFROweeds V.1.0: African weeds of rice. Cédérom. Montpellier, France & Cotonou, Bénin, Cirad-AfricaRice eds.
- Merlier H. & Montégut J., 1982. Adventices tropicales. ORSTOM-GERDAT-ENSH éd., Montpellier, France, 490 p.
- Le Bourgeois, T., Merlier, H. 1995. Adventrop - Les adventices d'Afrique soudano-sahélienne. Cirad, Montpellier, France.
- Le Bourgeois Th., 1993. Les mauvaises herbes dans la rotation cotonnière au Nord-Cameroun (Afrique) - Amplitude d'habitat et degré d'infestation - Cycle de développement. Thèse USTL Montpellier II, Montpellier, France, 241p.
- Le Bourgeois, T., A. Carrara, M. Dodet, W. Dogley, A. Gaungoo, P. Grard, Y. Ibrahim, E. Jeuffrault, G. Lebreton, P. Poilecot, J. Prosperi, J. A. Randriamampianina, A. P. Andrianaivo and F. Théveny (2008). Advent-OI : Principales adventices des îles du sud-ouest de l'Océan Indien. Cédérom. Montpellier, France, Cirad ed.
- Berhaut J., 1975. Flore illustrée du Sénégal. Tome 4. Clairafrique éd., Dakar, Sénégal, 625 p.
Information Listing > References
- Grard, P., Homsombath, K., Kessler, P., Khuon, E., Le Bourgeois, T., Prospéri, J., Risdale, C. 2006. Oswald V.1.0: A multimedia identification system of the major weeds of rice paddy fields of Cambodia and Lao P.D.R. In Cirad [ed.]. Cirad, Montpellier, France. Cdrom. ISBN 978-2-87614-653-2.
- Akobundu I.O. and Agyakwa C.W. (1998). A handbook of West African Weeds. International Institute of Tropical Agriculture, Ibadan, Nigeria 278p.
- Grard, P., T. Le Bourgeois, J. Rodenburg, P. Marnotte, A. Carrara, R. Irakiza, D. Makokha, G. kyalo, K. Aloys, K. Iswaria, N. Nguyen and G. Tzelepoglou (2012). AFROweeds V.1.0: African weeds of rice. Cédérom. Montpellier, France & Cotonou, Bénin, Cirad-AfricaRice eds.
- Merlier H. & Montégut J., 1982. Adventices tropicales. ORSTOM-GERDAT-ENSH éd., Montpellier, France, 490 p.
- Le Bourgeois, T., Merlier, H. 1995. Adventrop - Les adventices d'Afrique soudano-sahélienne. Cirad, Montpellier, France.
- Le Bourgeois Th., 1993. Les mauvaises herbes dans la rotation cotonnière au Nord-Cameroun (Afrique) - Amplitude d'habitat et degré d'infestation - Cycle de développement. Thèse USTL Montpellier II, Montpellier, France, 241p.
- Le Bourgeois, T., A. Carrara, M. Dodet, W. Dogley, A. Gaungoo, P. Grard, Y. Ibrahim, E. Jeuffrault, G. Lebreton, P. Poilecot, J. Prosperi, J. A. Randriamampianina, A. P. Andrianaivo and F. Théveny (2008). Advent-OI : Principales adventices des îles du sud-ouest de l'Océan Indien. Cédérom. Montpellier, France, Cirad ed.
- Berhaut J., 1975. Flore illustrée du Sénégal. Tome 4. Clairafrique éd., Dakar, Sénégal, 625 p.
Images
Herbarium pictures ReCOLNAT: https://explore.recolnat.org/search/botanique/simplequery=Hyptis%2520spicigera
Thomas Le Bourgeois
| Attributions | |
| Contributors | |
| Status | UNDER_CREATION |
| Licenses | CC_BY |
| References |
There is content in another language. Please click here to read it. (Français)
No Data
🐾 Taxonomy
| Root | Root |
| Kingdom | Plantae |
| Phylum | Tracheophyta |
| Class | Magnoliopsida |
| Order | Lamiales |
| Family | Lamiaceae |
| Genus | Hyptis |
| Species | Hyptis spicigera Lam. |
📊 Temporal Distribution
📷 Related Observations
