Sphagneticola trilobata (L.) Pruski

Code

WEDTR

Growth form

broadleaf

Biological cycle

vivacious

Habitat

terrestrial

Antilles : Sphagneticola trilobata flowers almost all year round, but mainly from <september to November.
Mayotte: Sphagneticola trilobata flowers from October to March and fruits from December to April.
Nicaragua: Sphagneticola trilobata flowers and fruits all year round.

Sphagneticola trilobata is a ruderal and ubiquitous species, it's generally a coastal species, but it is found in agricultural areas, along roadsides and trails, in open spaces, vacant lots, irrigated lawns, landfills, natural meadows and disturbed sites. It grows best in moist and well-drained soils, on fertile soils, clays, sands or marl and can tolerate saline soils. S. trilobata has become naturalized in many Pacific Islands and became invasive along streams, channels, margins of mangroves forests and coastal vegetation.  S. trilobata is suitable for a wide variety of conditions and will cover rough rocky ground r or wet drainage ditches and even tolerates some degree of trampling.

Brazil: Sphagneticola trilobata is a native species, particularly aggressive in very wet environments, but can also develop in environments with a marked dry period and at high altitude. It tolerates some shade, but flowers more abundantly in full sunlight.
China: Sphagneticola trilobata is an exotic species cultivated as an ornamental and cover plant. It has become naturalised in various regions on slopes and roadsides at low altitudes.
Comoros: Species infrequent in Comoros, it is mainly observed near houses where it was probably introduced for an ornamental purposes, but its invasive nature requires to monitor it.
French Guiana : Sphagneticola trilobata is native.
Madagascar: Sphagneticola trilobata grows on ferralitic and alluvial soils quite fertile and humid, but fairly well drained; in areas of sub humid climate of altitude and humid of the highlands (sub humid) and eastern side (humid) of Madagascar, on the banks of canals, in cultures and paths, around homes, weeds of perennials and fruit trees.
It enjoys sunny or somewhat shaded regions. Weed of perennial crops and orchards; annual burned crops without plowing or very basic soil preparation in the more or less extensive farming systems.
Mauritius: Absent
Mayotte: Species sometimes cultivated in the gardens and now widely naturalized, in particular in the wetlands of the hygrophilic region.
Nicaragua: An abundant species, cultivated and invading lawns, roadsides and beaches throughout the country; from 0 to 300 m altitude.
Reunion: Absent
Seychelles: Presents along edge of path in humid lowlands, including La Digue.
West Indies: Sphagneticola trilobata is a very ubiquitous exotic species, found mainly in grassland and ruderal environments at altitudes of 0 to 800 m, in both very dry and very wet situations. It forms dense monospecific stands that prevent the development of other plant species.

Global harmfulness

Sphagneticola trilobata is part of the IUCN list of '100 most invasive species among the world' and of the 300 major invasive species in tropical Australia, the Indian Ocean and Oceania including New Caledonia. S. trilobata is an invasive species threatening agricultural and forestry land, urban areas and roads. It forms a dense canopy and prevents the regeneration of native species.
 
Local harmfulness

Brazil: Sphagneticola trilobata is invasive in wetlands, along canals and in low-fodder crops such as banana plantations. In the State of Alagos, it is invasive in sugar cane.
Comoros: This species is present in the Comoros but infrequent, however, it is very abundant where it is present and its invasive behavior requires to monitor it.
French Guiana: Sphagneticola trilobata is a rather rare species in agricultural areas in French Guiana, it is however very invasive when present. Used in some cases as a cover plant, it helps to maintain the soil on steep places. Beware however, this plant is classified as an invasive alien in many countries and its control can be very complex once it is estalished since each portion of leafy stem has the capacity to produce roots. On the polder of Mana, it can be very invasive in the few shaded places.
Translated with www.DeepL.com/Translator (free version)
Madagascar: Sphagneticola trilobata was introduced recently in Madagascar, fully extended in areas with humid and sub-humid climate. S. trilobata invades humid areas (edges of roads and canals, and perennial fruit crops, annual crops in the lowlands). It is rooted at the nodes and forms a dense ground cover; and it is extremely difficult to control this weed when it is already well established and limit its expansion with simple means.
Mauritius : Absent
Mayotte: Localy invasive
New Caledonia: Sphagneticola trilobata is found mostly in the eastern part of the mainland, particularly in the Tiwaka Valley. It is found along roads, in flood plains, along the mangroves. It can be extremely invasive in crops and pasture valleys on ancient taro terraces, where it completely eliminates the forage species.
Reunion : Absent
South Africa: Sphagneticola trilobata competes with crops for nutrients, light and water, reducing yields.
West Indies: Sphagneticola trilobata is a plant of minor importance in crops. However, when it becomes abundant, it is difficult to eliminate because of its tough leaves that limit the penetration of herbicides and because of the ability of the fragmented stems to root into the soil after mechanical weeding. In some orchards and banana plantations, it is used occasionally as a service plant. However, there are few technical and economic references on this type of association to date.

Fodder: Sphagneticola trilobata is a plant without feed value but can be grazed occasionally.
Medicinal: S. trilobata is used in traditional medicine in South America, India and China for its medicinal properties and confirmed by phytochemical, ethnophramacologiques and therapeutic analyzes. Extracts from S. trilobata - terpenoids, flavonoids, phenols, saponins and tannins- have bactericidal, antimicrobial, trypanocides, anti-inflammatory and antispasmodic, hepatoprotective, activities.
Ornamental: S. trilobata is a decorative plant and can be used as cover ground.
Agronomy: S. trilobata is frequently used as a cover crop.
Service Plant: Sphagneticola trilobata can be used as an accompanying crop to fight against Bemisia tabaci fly, plant engineering, honey plant. It is used for anti-erosion works of roadside slope that can be sources of propagation of the species.

Global control

Prevention: The growth of Sphagneticola trilobata can be controlled by careful management of nitrogen fertilizer and irrigation.
Mechanical control: S. trilobata can be efficiently controlled by eliminating some top soil using a suitable tool (such as a hoe) used to cut the roots and remove seeds. Combustion may also be used.
Chemical control: S. trilobata can be controlled by the herbicide metsulfuron-methyl; adding a suitable wetting agent is also important. Monitor results and impact is important.
Biological control: Although very resistant S. trilobata can be infected by leafhoppers and mites.
 
Local control

Madagascar: Manual Control in all suburban areas and humid part of the Madagascar highlands and eastern slopes.
Mauritius: Absent.
New Caledonia : In New Caledonia, Sphagneticola trilobata is a localized weed in some areas of pastures because it occurs only under the particular conditions described. But its status as a major invasive species in the world, involves careful monitoring and effective control. Isolated seedlings and small infestations can be manually torn off. For the existing stands, its capacity for vegetative propagation makes the grinding ineffective. Repeated chemical treatment is often required to remove new sprouts from underground stems after the first treatment. Trials in Queensland with metsulfuron methyl have been shown to be effective. It is a systemic herbicide absorbed by leaves and roots that has not been tested locally.
Reunion: Absent.
West Indies: The management of Sphagneticola trilobata requires early intervention by combining various weed control techniques before it forms a dense mat.

Herbarium pictures ReCOLNAT: https://explore.recolnat.org/search/botanique/simplequery=Sphagneticola%2520trilobata