Code
SPCRA
Growth form
Broadleaf
Biological cycle
Annual
Habitat
Terrestrial
SPCRA
Growth form
Broadleaf
Biological cycle
Annual
Habitat
Terrestrial
🗒 Synonyms
| synonym | Borreria andongensis (Hiern) K.Schum. |
| synonym | Borreria radiata DC. |
| synonym | Spermacoce andongensis (Hiern) R.D.Good |
| synonym | Tardavel andongensis Hiern |
🗒 Common Names
| No Data |
📚 Overview
Description
Global description
Spermacoce radiata is an erect plant. The leaves are opposite, linear and sessile, presenting a stipular collar long toothed. The margin is white and cartilaginous. The white flowers are grouped into terminal glomeruli subtended by numerous leaves. They are sessile. They include a persistent and pubescent calyx, fused to the ovary and surmounted by 4 linear lobes, 4 petals welded into a tube surmounted by 4 lobes. The fruit is a dehiscent capsule, containing 2 oblong and smooth seeds.
Cotyledons
The cotyledons are oval. They are barely stalked. They are 5 to 7 mm long and 3 mm wide. The bases of the petioles are enlarged and meet, forming a thin stipular collar.
First leaves
The first leaves are opposite. The blade is elliptical to linear, 1 to 2 cm long and 3 to 6 mm wide. They are subsessile, the base of the lamina is attenuated and extends around the stem in a stipular collar with tapered teeth. The stem is cylindrical. It is pubescent and often tinged with purple. The leaves are glabrous.
General habit
Spermacoce radiata is erect. The plant is very branched and measures up to 30 cm in height.
Underground system
The root is a taproot.
Stem
The stem is solid, cylindrical and striated longitudinally. It is pubescent to hispide and sometimes subwoody at the base. It is often tinged with purple.
Leaf
The leaves are opposite and sessile. The blade is linear, 3 to 6 cm long and 4 to 6 mm wide. The summit forms an acute corner. The base is attenuated and is prolonged in a pubescent stipular collar, with numerous filiform teeth, 6-10 mm long. Both sides are almost glabrous and marked by a very visible central rib. The margin is entire, white. It is thickened, cartilaginous and scabrous.
Spermacoce radiata is an erect plant. The leaves are opposite, linear and sessile, presenting a stipular collar long toothed. The margin is white and cartilaginous. The white flowers are grouped into terminal glomeruli subtended by numerous leaves. They are sessile. They include a persistent and pubescent calyx, fused to the ovary and surmounted by 4 linear lobes, 4 petals welded into a tube surmounted by 4 lobes. The fruit is a dehiscent capsule, containing 2 oblong and smooth seeds.
Cotyledons
The cotyledons are oval. They are barely stalked. They are 5 to 7 mm long and 3 mm wide. The bases of the petioles are enlarged and meet, forming a thin stipular collar.
First leaves
The first leaves are opposite. The blade is elliptical to linear, 1 to 2 cm long and 3 to 6 mm wide. They are subsessile, the base of the lamina is attenuated and extends around the stem in a stipular collar with tapered teeth. The stem is cylindrical. It is pubescent and often tinged with purple. The leaves are glabrous.
General habit
Spermacoce radiata is erect. The plant is very branched and measures up to 30 cm in height.
Underground system
The root is a taproot.
Stem
The stem is solid, cylindrical and striated longitudinally. It is pubescent to hispide and sometimes subwoody at the base. It is often tinged with purple.
Leaf
The leaves are opposite and sessile. The blade is linear, 3 to 6 cm long and 4 to 6 mm wide. The summit forms an acute corner. The base is attenuated and is prolonged in a pubescent stipular collar, with numerous filiform teeth, 6-10 mm long. Both sides are almost glabrous and marked by a very visible central rib. The margin is entire, white. It is thickened, cartilaginous and scabrous.
Inflorescence
The flowers are assembled into terminal and subterminal glomeruli, subtended by numerous linear and long leaves.
Flower
Each glomerulus has a large number of small white sessile flowers, 3 mm long. The calyx is composed of 4 sepals welded into a long pubescent tube and ending with 4 linear teeth 1 mm long. The corolla is slightly shorter than the calyx teeth. It is formed of 4 petals welded tube, ending in 4 short lobes. The 4 stamens are as long as the corolla. The ovary is inferior and includes 2 boxes. It is surmounted by a style as long as the stamens.
Fruit
The fruit is a dehiscent capsule, oblong, which remains embedded in the floral glomerulus. It is 2 mm long and topped with pieces of the calix. The capsule contains one seed in each box. At maturity, the capsule opens in two valves from the top.
Seed
The seeds are ellipsoidal. The ventral side is hollowed out of a deep furrow. They are 2 mm long and 1 mm wide. The tegument is smooth and light brown in color.
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
📚 Nomenclature and Classification
No Data
📚 Natural History
Life Cycle
Northern Cameroon: Spermacoce radiata is a species present throughout the crop cycle, although more frequent at the beginning of the season. Germination occurs between June and August but this phase is often short-lived. Flowering does not begin until the end of September. It is induced by the shortening of the photoperiod. This phase of flowering is quickly followed by fruiting and seed dispersal which ends in November with the drying of the plant. The length of the life cycle of this species is therefore very variable (3 to 6 months) depending on the precocity of germination.
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)
Ecology
Northern Cameroon: Spermacoce radiata grows from the Sahelo-Sudanian zone to the Sudanian zone. This species is characteristic of light soils with a sandy surface horizon, such as degraded ferruginous soils. It is a common species on destructured soils with low fertility. In Northern Cameroon it is particularly frequent in the Sudano-Sahelian region characterized by ferruginous soils degraded on sandstone. It is much less common in other regions. It develops particularly in plots cultivated for more than 10 years and whose soil is leached and not very fertile. It rather infests traditional crops such as groundnuts and sorghum, which are frequently grown on this type of soil.
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
📚 Habitat and Distribution
Description
Worldwide distribution
Spermacoce radiata is widely distributed throughout tropical Africa.
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
📚 Occurrence
No Data
📚 Demography and Conservation
Risk Statement
Local harmfulness
Northern Cameroon: Spermacoce radiata is a regional weed, particularly common in the Sudano-Sahelian region. In this region, it is present in more than 40% of cultivated plots. It is much less common in other regions. It is rarely abundant.
Northern Cameroon: Spermacoce radiata is a regional weed, particularly common in the Sudano-Sahelian region. In this region, it is present in more than 40% of cultivated plots. It is much less common in other regions. It is rarely abundant.
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
📚 Uses and Management
Management
Local control
Northern Cameroon: Spermacoce radiata is easily controlled by cultural practices.
Northern Cameroon: Spermacoce radiata is easily controlled by cultural practices.
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
📚 Information Listing
Global Biodiversity Information Facility (GBIF)
There is content in another language. Please click here to read it. (Français)
Thomas Le Bourgeois
| Attributions | |
| Contributors | |
| Status | UNDER_CREATION |
| Licenses | CC_BY |
| References |
References
- Hutchinson J., Dalziel J. M., Keay R. W. J. & Hepper F. N., 1963. Flora of West Tropical Africa. Vol. II. 2ème éd. The Whitefriars Press ed., London & Tonbridge, 544p.
- Le Bourgeois, T. and H. Merlier (1995). Adventrop - Les adventices d'Afrique soudano-sahélienne. Montpellier, France, Cirad.637p.
- Berhaut J., 1967. Flore du Sénégal. 2ème éd. Clairafrique éd., Dakar, Sénégal, 485p.
- 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.
Information Listing > References
- Hutchinson J., Dalziel J. M., Keay R. W. J. & Hepper F. N., 1963. Flora of West Tropical Africa. Vol. II. 2ème éd. The Whitefriars Press ed., London & Tonbridge, 544p.
- Le Bourgeois, T. and H. Merlier (1995). Adventrop - Les adventices d'Afrique soudano-sahélienne. Montpellier, France, Cirad.637p.
- Berhaut J., 1967. Flore du Sénégal. 2ème éd. Clairafrique éd., Dakar, Sénégal, 485p.
- 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.
Images
Herbarium pictures ReCOLNAT: https://explore.recolnat.org/search/botanique/simplequery=Spermacoce%2520radiata
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 | Gentianales |
| Family | Rubiaceae |
| Genus | Spermacoce |
| Species | Spermacoce radiata (DC.) Hiern |
📊 Temporal Distribution
📷 Related Observations
