Sphagneticola trilobata

H. S., Shrestha, B., Adhikari & Shrestha, B. B., 2021, Sphagneticola trilobata (Asteraceae): first report of a naturalized plant species for Nepal, Rheedea 31 (2), pp. 77-81 : 78-79

Sphagneticola trilobata (L.) Pruski, Mem. New York Bot. Gard. 78: 114. 1996. Silphium trilobatum L, Syst. Nat., ed. 10. 2: 1233. 1759. Complaya trilobata (L.) Strother, Syst. Bot. Monogr. 33: 14. 1991. Seruneum trilobatum (L.) Kuntze, Revis. Gen. Pl. 1: 365. 1891. Stemmodontia trilobata (L.) Small, Fl. S.E. U.S. 1262, 1340. 1903. Thelechitonia trilobata (L.) H.Rob. & Cuatrec., Phytologia 72(2): 142. 1992. Wedelia trilobata (L.) Hitchc., Rep. (Annual) Missouri Bot. Gard. 4: 99. 1893.

English name: Singapore daisy, Creeping ox–eye, Creeping wedelia. Fig. 2

Perennial procumbent herbs, up to 1 m long, terrestrial or semi-aquatic. Stems rooting at nodes, terete, glabrous or sparsely pubescent, green or reddish green. Leaves simple, opposite; petioles absent or up to 3 mm long; lamina lanceolate to elliptic, 3.4–8.7 × 1.7–4 cm, usually 3-lobed, base cuneate, margins distantly serrate, apex acute, glabrous to puberulent, dark green above, paler below. Capitulum terminal, radiate, many flowered; involucre c. 1 cm long, involucral bracts in 2(–3) series, green; peduncles 5.5–16 cm long. Ray florets 8–13 per capitulum, pistillate, ligulate; limb oblong to obovate, 7–17 × 2–5 mm, 3-lobed at apex, lower surface glandular, bright yellow. Disc florets many, bisexual, corolla 4–7 mm long, 5-lobed; lobes spreading. Stamens 0.17–0.3 mm long; anthers 1.2– 2.7 mm long. Pistil 2–3.5 mm long. Achenes pyriform, 2–5 mm long, green when young, brown and tuberculated at maturity; pappus cupuliform, of fused short fimbriate scales.

Flowering & fruiting: Flowering from March to October and fruiting from May to November.

Habitat: Naturalized populations of S. trilobata were found along the roadside, trails, grasslands, streamside, and in agricultural lands at an elevations of 600–900 m in middle mountain regions of the Kavrepalanchowk district. It was also recorded from forest margins of Alnus nepalensis D.Don ( Betulaceae ), Pinus roxburghii Sarg. ( Pinaceae ), and Shorea robusta C.F.Gaertn. ( Dipterocarpaceae ) dominated forests.On roadsides and in agricultural lands, species such as Heteropogon contortus (L.) P.Beauv., Imperata cylindrica (L.) P.Beauv. (both Poaceae ), Galinsoga parviflora Cav. ( Asteraceae ), Justicia simplex D.Don ( Acanthaceae ) and Lantana camara L. ( Verbenaceae ) were associated with S. trilobata .

Distribution: It is a native of tropical Americas with native distribution from Mexico to Brazil and naturalized in tropical to subtropical regions of Asia (e.g. India, China, now also in Nepal), Africa (e.g. Kenya, Benin) and Oceania (e.g. Australia, Micronesia) ( CABI, 2020).

Specimens examined: NEPAL, Bagmati province, Kavrepalanchowk district, Panchkhal –03, N 27.64 ̊, E 85.62 ̊, 860 m, 01.07.2020, H. S . Shrestha KPS01 ( TUCH, KATH); Panchkhal –02, Kafladi , N 27.422 ̊, E 85.612 ̊, 874 m, 03.07.2020, H. S . Shrestha KPS05 ( TUCH, KATH); Panchkhal –03, N 27.642 ̊, E 85.612 ̊, 881 m, 03.07.2020, H. S . Shrestha KPSO7 ( TUCH, KATH); Panchkhal –04, N 27.65 ̊, E 85.62 ̊, 850 m, 09.08.2020, H. S . Shrestha KPS09 ( TUCH, KATH) .

Figures

Fig. 2. SphagnetiCola trilobata (L.) PruSKi. (photoS by H.S. ShreStha).