Gymnocoronis spilanthoides (D. Don ex Hook. & Arn.) DC., Asteraceae

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Present on Pacific Islands?  no

Primarily a threat at high elevations?  no

Risk assessment results:  Reject, score: 7 (Go to the risk assessment)

Other Latin names:  Alomia spilanthoides D. Don ex Hook. & Arn.; Gymnocoronis attenuata DC.

Common name(s): [more details]

Chinese: luo guan ju

English: Senegal tea, temple plant

Habit:  herb

Description:  "A freshwater or marsh-growing emergent perennial herb which forms rounded bushes or, extending from the banks, mats of tangled stems, reproducing vegetatively and by seed.  Stems:  Pale green, erect at first but becoming prostrate, scrambling and branching at the nodes, 1 to 1.5 m long, 5 to 10 mm diameter at first increasing to 1 to 2 cm with age; internodes hollow, inflated and buoyant.  Leaves dark green; opposite, ovate to lanceolate, 5 to 20 cm long, 2.5 to 5 cm wide, on shortish stalks, margins serrate and slightly wavy.  Flowers:  Florets, whitish, numerous, grouped into terminal heads 1.5 to 2 cm diameter, subtended by a single row of green involucral bracts.  Seed yellow-brown, 5 mm diameter, ribbed, without a crown or pappus.  Root:  Numerous, finely fibrous adventitious roots developing from the nodes"  (Parsons and Cuthbertson, 1992; pp. 285-287).

Description from Flora of China online.

Habitat/ecology:  "An emergent plant [that] prefers marshes or pond sides. It spreads by the stems, which easily produce roots"  (Flora of China online). Seed or stem fragments carried by water.  Commonly introduced and sold as an aquarium plant and thus spread by humans.

Propagation:  Seed or stem fragments carried by water.  Commonly introduced and sold as an aquarium plant and thus spread by humans.

Native range:  Tropical South America; cultivated and naturalized elsewhere (GRIN).

Presence:

Pacific Rim
Country/Terr./St. & Island group	Location	Cited status & Cited as invasive & Cited as cultivated & Cited as aboriginal introduction?	Reference & Comments
Australia Australia (continental)	New South Wales	introduced invasive cultivated	Csurhes, S./Edwards, R. (1998) (pp. 39-40)
Australia Australia (continental)	Queensland	introduced invasive cultivated	Csurhes, S./Edwards, R. (1998) (pp. 39-40)
China China	China (People's Republic of)	introduced invasive	Zhengyi, Wu/Raven, Peter H./Deyuan, Hong (2013) Recently introduced and now naturalized, in Guangxi and Yunnan
Japan Japan	Japan	introduced invasive	Zhengyi, Wu/Raven, Peter H./Deyuan, Hong (2013) Naturalized
Mexico Mexico	Mexico (United Mexican States)	native	Weber, Ewald (2003) (p. 185)
New Zealand New Zealand	New Zealand (country)	introduced invasive	Owen, S. J. (1997)
South America (Pacific rim) South America (Pacific rim)	Perú (Republic of)	native	U.S. Dept. Agr., Agr. Res. Serv. (2013)
Taiwan Taiwan Island	Taiwan Island	introduced invasive	Zhengyi, Wu/Raven, Peter H./Deyuan, Hong (2013) Recently introduced and now naturalized

Comments:  A problem species in Australia, New Zealand and India.

Control: 

Physical:  "Rake the plant material from the water, spread it thinly over a suitable surface to dry and then rake into heaps and burn.  Repeat as required"  (Parsons and Cuthbertson, 1992; pp. 285-287).  "Dig out small sites (all year round): Dispose of plant material at refuse transfer station, or dry out and burn.

Chemical: "1. Weed wipe (spring-summer): glyphosate (500ml/L + penetrant).  2. Spray (sprig-summer): glyphosate (20ml/L)"  (Weedbusters New Zealand).