Megaskepasma erythrochlamys Lindau. Family - Acanthaceae. Common Names(s) - Red Cloak, Brazilian cloak, Brazilian red-cloak, Brazilian bower plant. Synonym(s) - Misapplied: Adhatoda cydoniifolia.

Answer

Score

1.01

Is the species highly domesticated?

y=-3, n=0

n

0

1.02

Has the species become naturalized where grown?

y=1, n=-1

1.03

Does the species have weedy races?

y=-1, n=-1

2.01

Species suited to tropical or subtropical climate(s) (0-low; 1-intermediate; 2-high) – If island is primarily wet habitat, then substitute “wet tropical” for “tropical or subtropical”

See Append 2

2

2.02

Quality of climate match data (0-low; 1-intermediate; 2-high) see appendix 2

2

2.03

Broad climate suitability (environmental versatility)

y=1, n=0

n

0

2.04

Native or naturalized in regions with tropical or subtropical climates

y=1, n=0

y

1

2.05

Does the species have a history of repeated introductions outside its natural range?

y=-2, ?=-1, n=0

y

3.01

Naturalized beyond native range y = 1*multiplier (see Append 2), n= question 2.05

3.02

Garden/amenity/disturbance weed y = 1*multiplier (see Append 2)

n=0

n

0

3.03

Agricultural/forestry/horticultural weed y = 2*multiplier (see Append 2)

n=0

n

0

3.04

Environmental weed y = 2*multiplier (see Append 2)

n=0

n

0

3.05

Congeneric weed y = 1*multiplier (see Append 2)

n=0

n

0

4.01

Produces spines, thorns or burrs

y=1, n=0

n

0

4.02

Allelopathic

y=1, n=0

n

0

4.03

Parasitic

y=1, n=0

n

0

4.04

Unpalatable to grazing animals

y=1, n=-1

4.05

Toxic to animals

y=1, n=0

4.06

Host for recognized pests and pathogens

y=1, n=0

n

0

4.07

Causes allergies or is otherwise toxic to humans

y=1, n=0

4.08

Creates a fire hazard in natural ecosystems

y=1, n=0

n

0

4.09

Is a shade tolerant plant at some stage of its life cycle

y=1, n=0

y

1

4.10

Tolerates a wide range of soil conditions (or limestone conditions if not a volcanic island)

y=1, n=0

n

0

4.11

Climbing or smothering growth habit

y=1, n=0

n

0

4.12

Forms dense thickets

y=1, n=0

5.01

Aquatic

y=5, n=0

n

0

5.02

Grass

y=1, n=0

n

0

5.03

Nitrogen fixing woody plant

y=1, n=0

n

0

5.04

Geophyte (herbaceous with underground storage organs -- bulbs, corms, or tubers)

y=1, n=0

n

0

6.01

Evidence of substantial reproductive failure in native habitat

y=1, n=0

n

0

6.02

Produces viable seed.

y=1, n=-1

y

1

6.03

Hybridizes naturally

y=1, n=-1

n

-1

6.04

Self-compatible or apomictic

y=1, n=-1

6.05

Requires specialist pollinators

y=-1, n=0

y

-1

6.06

Reproduction by vegetative fragmentation

y=1, n=-1

y

1

6.07

Minimum generative time (years) 1 year = 1, 2 or 3 years = 0, 4+ years = -1

See left

2+

0

7.01

Propagules likely to be dispersed unintentionally (plants growing in heavily trafficked areas)

y=1, n=-1

n

-1

7.02

Propagules dispersed intentionally by people

y=1, n=-1

y

1

7.03

Propagules likely to disperse as a produce contaminant

y=1, n=-1

n

-1

7.04

Propagules adapted to wind dispersal

y=1, n=-1

y

1

7.05

Propagules water dispersed

y=1, n=-1

7.06

Propagules bird dispersed

y=1, n=-1

n

-1

7.07

Propagules dispersed by other animals (externally)

y=1, n=-1

n

-1

7.08

Propagules survive passage through the gut

y=1, n=-1

n

-1

8.01

Prolific seed production (>1000/m2)

y=1, n=-1

n

-1

8.02

Evidence that a persistent propagule bank is formed (>1 yr)

y=1, n=-1

n

-1

8.03

Well controlled by herbicides

y=-1, n=1

8.04

Tolerates, or benefits from, mutilation, cultivation, or fire

y=1, n=-1

y

1

8.05

Effective natural enemies present locally (e.g. introduced biocontrol agents)

y=-1, n=1

Total score:

-2

Notes

Source

1.01

(1)No evidence

(1)Staples, G.W. and D. R. Herbst. 2005. A Tropical Garden Flora. Plants Cultivated in the Hawaiian Islands and Other Tropical Places. Bishop Museum Press, Honolulu, Hawaii.

1.02

1.03

2.01

(1)This plant is native to Venezuela and is found cultivated throughout much of the neotropics. Capsules and seeds were described from a Costa Rican specimen,

(1)Woodson, Jr., R. E., R. W. Schery and L. H. Durkee. 1978. Flora of Panama. Part IX. Family 177. Acanthaceae. Annals of the Missouri Botanical Garden 65(1): 155-283.

2.02

(1)This plant is native to Venezuela and is found cultivated throughout much of the neotropics. Capsules and seeds were described from a Costa Rican specimen,

(1)Woodson, Jr., R. E., R. W. Schery and L. H. Durkee. 1978. Flora of Panama. Part IX. Family 177. Acanthaceae. Annals of the Missouri Botanical Garden 65(1): 155-283.

2.03

(1)Zone 10 (2)Zone 10b and 11 as a permanent perennial; zone 9b as a returning perennial.

(1)Courtright, G. 1995. Tropicals. Timber Press, Portland, OR. (2)Riffle, R. L. 1998. The Tropical Look: An Encyclopedia of Dramatic Landscape Plants. Timber Press, Portland, OR.

2.04

(1)This plant is native to Venezuela and is found cultivated throughout much of the neotropics. Capsules and seeds were described from a Costa Rican specimen,

(1)Woodson, Jr., R. E., R. W. Schery and L. H. Durkee. 1978. Flora of Panama. Part IX. Family 177. Acanthaceae. Annals of the Missouri Botanical Garden 65(1): 155-283.

2.05

(1)This plant has been said to grow in the following regions: Sacramento, California Bartow, Florida Boca Raton, Florida Brooksville, Florida Clearwater, Florida Delray Beach, Florida Hollywood, Florida Homestead, Florida Miami, Florida (2 reports) Naples, Florida Port Charlotte, Florida Sanford, Florida Venice, Florida West Palm Beach, Florida Lafayette, Louisiana Humble, Texas Los Fresnos, Texas Spring, Texas Weimar, Texas (2)Cultivated ? Yes. Evidence of naturalization? No

(1)http://davesgarden.com/guides/pf/go/54077/ [Accessed 30 Mar 2009] (2)Foxcroft, L. C., D. M. Richardson and J. R. U. Wilson. 2008. Ornamental Plants as Invasive Aliens: Problems and Solutions in Kruger National Park, South Africa. Environmental Management 41:32–51.

3.01

(1)In April of 2008, NRS accompanied OED on a survey of Schofield Barracks. Focusing on the residential area northeast of Waianae Avenue, OED and NRS documented two adventive/naturalizing species, Megaskepasma erythrochlamys and Dovyalis hebecarpa. (2)"Krista Winger and I stopped the Megaskepasma site today and looked around . . . from what we could see, the flowers never seem to develop into fruit. There were tons of flowers and buds, but no immature or mature fruit. Perhaps fruit develop rarely, if at all. I also looked around on the ground; there was a ton of Justicia betonica seedlings, but I couldn't identify anything as a Medaskepasma seedling. The youngest plants I found were definitely from vegetative material. There are some photos attached. The whole infestation is pretty large; Megaskepasma is the dominant species in this particular gulch on Schofield Barracks. It is doing well in both sun and shade, and very little is growing underneath it." [localized vegetative spread with limited distribution]

(1)OANRP Staff. December 2008. 2008 Status Report for the Mākua Implementation Plan) Available from http://www.botany.hawaii.edu/faculty/duffy/DPW/2008_YER/003.pdf [Accessed 30 Mar 2009] (2)Jane Reppun Beachy Ecosystem Restoration Program Manager O'ahu Army Natural Resources Program [pers. comm. 1 Apr 2009]

3.02

(1)Not listed as a weed anywhere

(1)http://www.hear.org/gcw/scientificnames/scinamem.htm [Accessed 30 Mar 2009]

3.03

(1)Not listed as a weed anywhere

(1)http://www.hear.org/gcw/scientificnames/scinamem.htm [Accessed 30 Mar 2009]

3.04

(1)Not listed as a weed anywhere

(1)http://www.hear.org/gcw/scientificnames/scinamem.htm [Accessed 30 Mar 2009]

3.05

(1)This is a monotypic genus and is endemic to the Neotropics. It is recognized by its large, showy bracts and its large leaves, which when dried, are shown to lack cystoliths.

(1)Burger, W. 1986. Flora Costaricensis : Family #200, Acanthaceae by L.H. Durkee, Family #201, Plantaginaceae by William Burger. Fieldiana, Botany new series v.18.

4.01

(1)Shrub to 4 m tall; stems subquadrangular. internodes between leaf-bearing nodes 2.5-4 cm long, 6-8 mm thick, puberulous. Leaves with petioles to 4 cm long, petioles puberulous; laminae elliptic, 13-28 cm long, 3.5-13 cm broad, apically acuminate with a rounded, apiculate tip, basally acute, margins entire to crenulate, sparingly strigose on the costa and lateral veins of both surfaces, cystoliths none. [no spines, thorns, or burrs]

(1)Burger, W. 1986. Flora Costaricensis : Family #200, Acanthaceae by L.H. Durkee, Family #201, Plantaginaceae by William Burger. Fieldiana, Botany new series v.18.

4.02

(1)This shrub is breathtaking in the landscape as a tall background subject underplanted with almost anything that is not as tall; one of the most intriguing partners is the shrimp plant whose more subtle flower colors are extremely complementary with those of the red-cloak. [no evidence of allelopathic effects in literature, and able to be grown with other landscape plants without any apparent detrimental effects]

(1)Riffle, R. L. 1998. The Tropical Look: An Encyclopedia of Dramatic Landscape Plants. Timber Press, Portland, OR.

4.03

(1)Megaskepasma erythrochlamys is recognized by its shrubby habit, its large leaves which lack cystoliths, and its flowers with large (3.5-4.7 cm long) reddish purple bracts, and its large (50-60 mm long) white, bilabiate corollas with two exserted stamens having two-celled anthers with equal cells. It most closely resembles the genus Justicia, but differs in its leaves, which lack cystoliths, and its much larger bracts.

(1)Burger, W. 1986. Flora Costaricensis : Family #200, Acanthaceae by L.H. Durkee, Family #201, Plantaginaceae by William Burger. Fieldiana, Botany new series v.18.

4.04

Unknown

4.05

Unknown [no evidence of toxicity, but information lacking]

4.06

(1)pest free [apparently not an important alternate hose of pests and pathogens] (2)The red cloak is occasionally attacked by mealy bugs and scales.

(1)Oakman, H. 1995. Harry Oakman's what flowers when: the complete guide to flowering times in tropical and subtropical gardens. Univ. of Queensland Press. St. Lucia, Australia. (2)http://toptropicals.com/catalog/uid/Megaskepasma_erythrochlamys.htm [Accessed 30 Mar 2009]

4.07

Unknown [no evidence of toxicity, but information lacking]

4.08

(1)partial shade to shade [unlikely to increase fire risk, given growth in wetter, shadier tropical environments] (2)Sun to partial shade (3)It will grow just as well in shade as in full sun. (4)It prefers to grow in places where it will not be exposed to full sun. (5)This plant is native to Venezuela and is found cultivated throughout much of the neotropics.

(1)Jarrett, A. 2003. Ornamental Tropical Shrubs. Pineapple Press Inc. Sarasota, FL. (2)Riffle, R. L. 1998. The Tropical Look: An Encyclopedia of Dramatic Landscape Plants. Timber Press, Portland, OR. (3)http://annstropics.com/Descriptions/Megaskepasma_erythrochlamys.html [Accessed 30 Mar 2009] (4)http://www.tropicalflower.org/red.php [Accessed 30 Mar 2009] (5)Woodson, Jr., R. E., R. W. Schery and L. H. Durkee. 1978. Flora of Panama. Part IX. Family 177. Acanthaceae. Annals of the Missouri Botanical Garden 65(1): 155-283.

4.09

(1)partial shade to shade (2)Sun to partial shade (3)It will grow just as well in shade as in full sun. (4)It prefers to grow in places where it will not be exposed to full sun.

(1)Jarrett, A. 2003. Ornamental Tropical Shrubs. Pineapple Press Inc. Sarasota, FL. (2)Riffle, R. L. 1998. The Tropical Look: An Encyclopedia of Dramatic Landscape Plants. Timber Press, Portland, OR. (3)http://annstropics.com/Descriptions/Megaskepasma_erythrochlamys.html [Accessed 30 Mar 2009] (4)http://www.tropicalflower.org/red.php [Accessed 30 Mar 2009]

4.10

(1)needs rich, moist soil (2)Soil pH requirements: 6.1 to 6.5 (mildly acidic) (3)Feed occasionally with fertilizer for acid-loving plants.

(1)Oakman, H. 1995. Harry Oakman's what flowers when: the complete guide to flowering times in tropical and subtropical gardens. Univ. of Queensland Press. St. Lucia, Australia. (2)http://davesgarden.com/guides/pf/go/54077/ [Accessed 30 Mar 2009] (3)http://toptropicals.com/cgi-bin/garden_catalog/cat.cgi?uid=Megaskepasma_erythrochlamys [Accessed 03 Apr 4009]

4.11

(1)Megaskepasma erythrochlamys is recognized by its shrubby habit, its large leaves which lack cystoliths, and its flowers with large (3.5-4.7 cm long) reddish purple bracts, and its large (50-60 mm long) white, bilabiate corollas with two exserted stamens having two-celled anthers with equal cells. It most closely resembles the genus Justicia, but differs in its leaves, which lack cystoliths, and its much larger bracts.

(1)Burger, W. 1986. Flora Costaricensis : Family #200, Acanthaceae by L.H. Durkee, Family #201, Plantaginaceae by William Burger. Fieldiana, Botany new series v.18.

4.12

(1)Forms into a rounded, dense, 2-3-meter evergreen bush with stout upright green stems. [forms dense growth in cultivation]

(1)Oakman, H. 1995. Harry Oakman's what flowers when: the complete guide to flowering times in tropical and subtropical gardens. Univ. of Queensland Press. St. Lucia, Australia.

5.01

(1)Terrestrial

(1)Staples, G.W. and D. R. Herbst. 2005. A Tropical Garden Flora. Plants Cultivated in the Hawaiian Islands and Other Tropical Places. Bishop Museum Press, Honolulu, Hawaii.

5.02

(1)Acanthaceae

(1)Staples, G.W. and D. R. Herbst. 2005. A Tropical Garden Flora. Plants Cultivated in the Hawaiian Islands and Other Tropical Places. Bishop Museum Press, Honolulu, Hawaii.

5.03

(1)Acanthaceae

(1)Staples, G.W. and D. R. Herbst. 2005. A Tropical Garden Flora. Plants Cultivated in the Hawaiian Islands and Other Tropical Places. Bishop Museum Press, Honolulu, Hawaii.

5.04

(1)Megaskepasma erythrochlamys is recognized by its shrubby habit, its large leaves which lack cystoliths, and its flowers with large (3.5-4.7 cm long) reddish purple bracts, and its large (50-60 mm long) white, bilabiate corollas with two exserted stamens having two-celled anthers with equal cells. It most closely resembles the genus Justicia, but differs in its leaves, which lack cystoliths, and its much larger bracts.

(1)Burger, W. 1986. Flora Costaricensis : Family #200, Acanthaceae by L.H. Durkee, Family #201, Plantaginaceae by William Burger. Fieldiana, Botany new series v.18.

6.01

(1)seeds 4, sub-orbiculate, flattened, ca. 7 mm in diameter, glabrous [no evidence]

(1)Burger, W. 1986. Flora Costaricensis : Family #200, Acanthaceae by L.H. Durkee, Family #201, Plantaginaceae by William Burger. Fieldiana, Botany new series v.18.

6.02

(1)seeds 4, sub-orbiculate, flattened, ca. 7 mm in diameter, glabrous (2)easily raised from seed (3)The species is not known to produce seed in cultivation and is usually propagated from root suckers.

(1)Burger, W. 1986. Flora Costaricensis : Family #200, Acanthaceae by L.H. Durkee, Family #201, Plantaginaceae by William Burger. Fieldiana, Botany new series v.18. (2)Oakman, H. 1995. Harry Oakman's what flowers when: the complete guide to flowering times in tropical and subtropical gardens. Univ. of Queensland Press. St. Lucia, Australia. (3)Llamas, K. A. 2003. Tropical Flowering Plants: A Guide to Identification and Cultivation. Timber Press. Portland, OR.

6.03

(1)This is a monotypic genus and is endemic to the Neotropics. It is recognized by its large, showy bracts and its large leaves, which when dried, are shown to lack cystoliths. [monotypic genus with no evidence of intergeneric hybridization reported in literature]

(1)Burger, W. 1986. Flora Costaricensis : Family #200, Acanthaceae by L.H. Durkee, Family #201, Plantaginaceae by William Burger. Fieldiana, Botany new series v.18.

6.04

[unknown if plants are capable of self-pollinating, as pollinators may be limited in introduced range] (1)Flowers white, 5-6 cm long, bilaterally symmetrical, tubular, petal lobes 2-lipped, upper lip 2-lobed, lower lip 3-lobed, stamens 2, extended beyond petal lobes; major bracts deep red purple, to 4.5 cm long, 2 cm wide, smaller bracts to 2 cm long; inflorescence a cluster of drooping spikes to 20 cm long. (2)The species is not known to produce seed in cultivation and is usually propagated from root suckers. (3)Pollination mechanism conspicuously specialized (commonly exhibiting a loose-pollen mechanism, cf. Scophulariaceae etc. — e.g. the large bee-flowers of Acanthus), or unspecialized. [Acanthaceae family description]

(1)Gargiullo, M. B., B. L. Magnuson and L. D. Kimball. 2008. A field guide to plants of Costa Rica. Oxford University Press US. New York, NY. (2)Llamas, K. A. 2003. Tropical Flowering Plants: A Guide to Identification and Cultivation. Timber Press. Portland, OR. (3)http://www.biologie.uni-hamburg.de/b-online/delta/angio/www/acanthac.htm [Accessed 03 Apr 2009]

6.05

[limited seed production in cultivation and floral structure suggest that this plant has specialized pollinators, either birds or long-tongued moths] (1)Flowers white, 5-6 cm long, bilaterally symmetrical, tubular, petal lobes 2-lipped, upper lip 2-lobed, lower lip 3-lobed, stamens 2, extended beyond petal lobes; major bracts deep red purple, to 4.5 cm long, 2 cm wide, smaller bracts to 2 cm long; inflorescence a cluster of drooping spikes to 20 cm long. (2)The species is not known to produce seed in cultivation and is usually propagated from root suckers. (3)Pollination mechanism conspicuously specialized (commonly exhibiting a loose-pollen mechanism, cf. Scophulariaceae etc. — e.g. the large bee-flowers of Acanthus), or unspecialized. [Acanthaceae family description]

(1)Gargiullo, M. B., B. L. Magnuson and L. D. Kimball. 2008. A field guide to plants of Costa Rica. Oxford University Press US. New York, NY. (2)Llamas, K. A. 2003. Tropical Flowering Plants: A Guide to Identification and Cultivation. Timber Press. Portland, OR. (3)http://www.biologie.uni-hamburg.de/b-online/delta/angio/www/acanthac.htm [Accessed 03 Apr 2009]

6.06

(1)Krista Winger and I stopped the Megaskepasma site today and looked around . . . from what we could see, the flowers never seem to develop into fruit. There were tons of flowers and buds, but no immature or mature fruit. Perhaps fruit develop rarely, if at all. I also looked around on the ground; there was a ton of Justicia betonica seedlings, but I couldn't identify anything as a Medaskepasma seedling. The youngest plants I found were definitely from vegetative material. There are some photos attached. The whole infestation is pretty large; Megaskepasma is the dominant species in this particular gulch on Schofield Barracks. It is doing well in both sun and shade, and very little is growing underneath it. (2)The species is not known to produce seed in cultivation and is usually propagated from root suckers.

(1)Jane Reppun Beachy Ecosystem Restoration Program Manager O'ahu Army Natural Resources Program [pers. comm. 1 Apr 2009] (2)Llamas, K. A. 2003. Tropical Flowering Plants: A Guide to Identification and Cultivation. Timber Press. Portland, OR.

6.07

(1)The Brazilian Red Cloak is a very showy shrub. It is fast growing and blooms during the winter. (2)The plant forms a clump of spreading stems, each topped with tall spikes of bright flowers. The individual flowers are white, or pale pink. What makes them so outstanding is that the tall spikes are almost totally enclosed by bright red bracts. Mature plants (2 years and older) will bloom almost all year.

(1)http://toptropicals.com/catalog/uid/Megaskepasma_erythrochlamys.htm [Accessed 30 Mar 2009] (2)http://annstropics.com/Descriptions/Megaskepasma_erythrochlamys.html [Accessed 30 Mar 2009]

7.01

(1)capsules clavate, to 30 mm long, 8 mm wide, apically attenuate and mucronate, glabrous; seeds 4, suborbiculate, flattened, ca. 6 mm in diameter, glabrous. [no means of external attachment]

(1)Woodson, Jr., R. E., R. W. Schery and L. H. Durkee. 1978. Flora of Panama. Part IX. Family 177. Acanthaceae. Annals of the Missouri Botanical Garden 65(1): 155-283.

7.02

(1)Long misidentified as Ashatoda cydoniifolia, a different species probably not in cultivation, Brazilian-cloak is a popular informal untrimmed hedge or background screening plant in Hawaii and other tropical places. (2)It is a very popular ornamental in tropical Central and South America.

(1)Staples, G.W. and D. R. Herbst. 2005. A Tropical Garden Flora. Plants Cultivated in the Hawaiian Islands and Other Tropical Places. Bishop Museum Press, Honolulu, Hawaii. (2)http://www.socalhort.org/green-sheets/2008/SCHS_GreenSheet_2008_10.pdf [Accessed 30 Mar 2009]

7.03

(1)capsules clavate, to 30 mm long, 8 mm wide, apically attenuate and mucronate, glabrous; seeds 4, suborbiculate, flattened, ca. 6 mm in diameter, glabrous. [unlikely; not grown with produce and no evidence of use in floral arrangements]

(1)Woodson, Jr., R. E., R. W. Schery and L. H. Durkee. 1978. Flora of Panama. Part IX. Family 177. Acanthaceae. Annals of the Missouri Botanical Garden 65(1): 155-283.

7.04

(1)The only genera lacking cystoliths and having the more typical capsular fruit with hooklike funicles are the genera Aphelandra and Megaskepasma. Seeds are frequently ejected forcefully by the hook-shaped funicles when the mature capsules are moistened by rainfall. In opened or dehisced capsules, the funicles can be seen as hook-shaped projections. [probably short distance dispersal by wind]

(1)Burger, W. 1986. Flora Costaricensis : Family #200, Acanthaceae by L.H. Durkee, Family #201, Plantaginaceae by William Burger. Fieldiana, Botany new series v.18.

7.05

(1)The only genera lacking cystoliths and having the more typical capsular fruit with hooklike funicles are the genera Aphelandra and Megaskepasma. Seeds are frequently ejected forcefully by the hook-shaped funicles when the mature capsules are moistened by rainfall. In opened or dehisced capsules, the funicles can be seen as hook-shaped projections. [unknown if seeds will float]

(1)Burger, W. 1986. Flora Costaricensis : Family #200, Acanthaceae by L.H. Durkee, Family #201, Plantaginaceae by William Burger. Fieldiana, Botany new series v.18.

7.06

(1)capsules clavate, to 30 mm long, 8 mm wide, apically attenuate and mucronate, glabrous; seeds 4, suborbiculate, flattened, ca. 6 mm in diameter, glabrous. [not fleshy-fruited]

(1)Woodson, Jr., R. E., R. W. Schery and L. H. Durkee. 1978. Flora of Panama. Part IX. Family 177. Acanthaceae. Annals of the Missouri Botanical Garden 65(1): 155-283.

7.07

(1)capsules clavate, to 30 mm long, 8 mm wide, apically attenuate and mucronate, glabrous; seeds 4, suborbiculate, flattened, ca. 6 mm in diameter, glabrous. [no means of external attachment]

(1)Woodson, Jr., R. E., R. W. Schery and L. H. Durkee. 1978. Flora of Panama. Part IX. Family 177. Acanthaceae. Annals of the Missouri Botanical Garden 65(1): 155-283.

7.08

(1)capsules clavate, to 30 mm long, 8 mm wide, apically attenuate and mucronate, glabrous; seeds 4, suborbiculate, flattened, ca. 6 mm in diameter, glabrous. [unlikely, capsules and seeds not adapted for ingestion and internal dispersal]

(1)Woodson, Jr., R. E., R. W. Schery and L. H. Durkee. 1978. Flora of Panama. Part IX. Family 177. Acanthaceae. Annals of the Missouri Botanical Garden 65(1): 155-283.

8.01

[Apparently does not make abundant seeds, at least for now, in cultivation outside of native range] (1)seeds 4, sub-orbiculate, flattened, ca. 7 mm in diameter, glabrous (2)easily raised from seed (3)The species is not known to produce seed in cultivation and is usually propagated from root suckers. (4)Krista Winger and I stopped the Megaskepasma site today and looked around . . . from what we could see, the flowers never seem to develop into fruit. There were tons of flowers and buds, but no immature or mature fruit. Perhaps fruit develop rarely, if at all. I also looked around on the ground; there was a ton of Justicia betonica seedlings, but I couldn't identify anything as a Medaskepasma seedling. The youngest plants I found were definitely from vegetative material. There are some photos attached. The whole infestation is pretty large; Megaskepasma is the dominant species in this particular gulch on Schofield Barracks. It is doing well in both sun and shade, and very little is growing underneath it.

(1)Burger, W. 1986. Flora Costaricensis : Family #200, Acanthaceae by L.H. Durkee, Family #201, Plantaginaceae by William Burger. Fieldiana, Botany new series v.18. (2)Oakman, H. 1995. Harry Oakman's what flowers when: the complete guide to flowering times in tropical and subtropical gardens. Univ. of Queensland Press. St. Lucia, Australia. (3)Llamas, K. A. 2003. Tropical Flowering Plants: A Guide to Identification and Cultivation. Timber Press. Portland, OR. (4)Jane Reppun Beachy Ecosystem Restoration Program Manager O'ahu Army Natural Resources Program [pers. comm. 1 Apr 2009]

8.02

[Apparently does not make abundant seeds, at least for now, in cultivation outside of native range] (1)seeds 4, sub-orbiculate, flattened, ca. 7 mm in diameter, glabrous (2)easily raised from seed (3)The species is not known to produce seed in cultivation and is usually propagated from root suckers. (4)Krista Winger and I stopped the Megaskepasma site today and looked around . . . from what we could see, the flowers never seem to develop into fruit. There were tons of flowers and buds, but no immature or mature fruit. Perhaps fruit develop rarely, if at all. I also looked around on the ground; there was a ton of Justicia betonica seedlings, but I couldn't identify anything as a Medaskepasma seedling. The youngest plants I found were definitely from vegetative material. There are some photos attached. The whole infestation is pretty large; Megaskepasma is the dominant species in this particular gulch on Schofield Barracks. It is doing well in both sun and shade, and very little is growing underneath it.

(1)Burger, W. 1986. Flora Costaricensis : Family #200, Acanthaceae by L.H. Durkee, Family #201, Plantaginaceae by William Burger. Fieldiana, Botany new series v.18. (2)Oakman, H. 1995. Harry Oakman's what flowers when: the complete guide to flowering times in tropical and subtropical gardens. Univ. of Queensland Press. St. Lucia, Australia. (3)Llamas, K. A. 2003. Tropical Flowering Plants: A Guide to Identification and Cultivation. Timber Press. Portland, OR. (4)Jane Reppun Beachy Ecosystem Restoration Program Manager O'ahu Army Natural Resources Program [pers. comm. 1 Apr 2009]

8.03

Unknown [no evidence or history of control anywhere]

8.04

(1)Prune hard after flowering.

(1)http://www.selby.org/index.php?src=photo&srctype=display&pos=73,1,121&ref=Plants%20of%20the%20Week&category=Plants [Accessed 30 Mar 2009]

8.05

Unknown