Rubiaceae
Spermacoce

Spermacoce ocymoides Burm.f.

First published in Fl. Indica: 34 (1768)
This species is accepted
The native range of this species is Tropical Asia to SW. Pacific. It is an annual or subshrub and grows primarily in the seasonally dry tropical biome. It is has social uses and as a medicine.

Descriptions

Extinction risk predictions for the world's flowering plants to support their conservation (2024). Bachman, S.P., Brown, M.J.M., Leão, T.C.C., Lughadha, E.N., Walker, B.E. https://nph.onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/full/10.1111/nph.19592

Conservation
Predicted extinction risk: not threatened. Confidence: confident
[AERP]

Rubiaceae, B. Verdcourt. Flora of Tropical East Africa. 1976

Morphology General Habit
A weak erect, decumbent or procumbent annual herb, usually ± well-branched, 3–40 cm. tall, with fine fibrous roots; stems with sparse to fairly dense crisped hairs on the ± wing-like prominent angles.
Morphology Leaves
Leaf-blades elliptic to elliptic-lanceolate, 0.4–3.6 cm. long, 0.25–1.6 cm. wide, rounded to ± acute at the apex, concavely narrowed into the petiole at the base, glabrous on both surfaces save for short marginal hairs or ± pubescent on the main nerve beneath; petiole 0–8 mm. long, with scattered hairs; stipules with base 2 mm. long, bearing ± 7 fimbriae 1–3 mm. long.
Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers
Flowers in small few-flowered clusters at many of the nodes, attaining 3–6 mm. in diameter in the fruiting state; stipule-like bracteoles with fimbriae 1.8–2 mm. long.
Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers Calyx
Calyx-tube transversely oblong, 0.5 mm. long; lobes 2(–4), 0.6–0.8 mm. long, ciliate.
Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers Corolla
Corolla white; tube 0.3 mm. long; lobes triangular, 0.35 mm. long, 0.3–0.4 mm. wide, with a few short hairs inside.
Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers Androecium Stamens Anthers
Anthers situated just above the sinuses of the corolla-lobes.
Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers Gynoecium Pistil
Style ± 0.2 mm. long; stigma 0.2 mm. wide.
Morphology Reproductive morphology Fruits
Fruit oblong, 1 mm. long, 0.8 mm. wide, 0.5–0.7 mm. thick, compressed, finely transversely wrinkled and very shortly pubescent.
Morphology Reproductive morphology Seeds
Seeds chestnut-brown, oblong-ellipsoid, 0.7–0.8 mm. long, 0.4 mm. wide, 0.3–0.35 mm. thick, strongly reticulate with raised ribs, the foveae elongated in the direction of the short axis.
Figures
Fig. 50/19, p. 342.
Habitat
Forest paths and leaf-litter, rocky paths in open grassland, also as an epiphyte on planted Raphia palms; 930–1700 m.
Distribution
Senegal to Cameroun, Fernando Po, Principe, St. Tomé, Annobon, Cabinda, Congo (Brazzaville), Zambia and Malawidescribed from Malesia, now widely spread in Solomon Is., Fiji, Samoa, Philippines, India, Madagascar, Mauritius, Central America, West Indies and S. America to Argentina T4 T7 T8 U2 U4
[FTEA]

Rubiaceae, F. N. Hepper & R. W. J. Keay. Flora of West Tropical Africa 2. 1963

Morphology General Habit
A weak herb, erect or decumbent, 6-9 in. high
Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers
Flowers very small, white
Ecology
Wayside weed.
[FWTA]

Uses

Use Medicines
Medical uses.
Use Social
Social uses.
[UPFC]

Sources

  • Angiosperm Extinction Risk Predictions v1

    • Angiosperm Threat Predictions
    • http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0

  • Colombian resources for Plants made Accessible

    • ColPlantA 2021. Published on the Internet at http://colplanta.org
    • https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/

  • Flora of Tropical East Africa

    • Flora of Tropical East Africa
    • http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-sa/3.0

  • Flora of West Tropical Africa

    • Flora of West Tropical Africa
    • http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-sa/3.0

  • Herbarium Catalogue Specimens

    • Digital Image © Board of Trustees, RBG Kew http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0/

  • Kew Backbone Distributions

    • The International Plant Names Index and World Checklist of Vascular Plants 2024. Published on the Internet at http://www.ipni.org and https://powo.science.kew.org/
    • © Copyright 2023 World Checklist of Vascular Plants. http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0

  • Kew Names and Taxonomic Backbone

    • The International Plant Names Index and World Checklist of Vascular Plants 2024. Published on the Internet at http://www.ipni.org and https://powo.science.kew.org/
    • © Copyright 2023 International Plant Names Index and World Checklist of Vascular Plants. http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0

  • Useful Plants and Fungi of Colombia

    • http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-sa/3.0