Acanthospermum australe (Loefl.) Kuntze, Asteraceae

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Present on Pacific Islands?  yes

Primarily a threat at high elevations?  no

Other Latin names:  Acanthospermum brasilum Schrank; Acanthospermum xanthioides (Kunth) DC.; Centrospermum xanthioides Kunth; Melampodium australe Loefl.

Common name(s): [more details]

English: Paraguay bur, Paraguay starbur, sheepbur, spiny bur, star bur

Hawaiian: ‘ihi kūkae hipa, kūkaehipa, pipili

Habit:  herb

Description:  "Stems prostrate, often rooting at the nodes, 1-6 dm long, pubescent with short appressed hairs.  Leaves rhombic-ovate to triangular, 1.5-3.5 cm long, 1-3 cm wide, with conspicuous glands on both surfaces, margins irregularly serrate above the middle, base cuneate, petioles 0.3-1.5 cm long.  Heads 4-6 mm in diameter at anthesis.  Burs ellipsoid to oblong, 7-9 mm long, the ribs bearing 1-2 rows of hooked prickles 1-2 mm long, the prickles all uniform in size."  (Wagner et al., 1999; pp. 252-253).

Habitat/ecology:  In Hawai‘i, "naturalized along roadsides and in relatively dry, open, often disturbed areas" (Wagner et al., 1999; pp. 252-253).

Propagation:  Seed

Native range:  Caribbean and South America, widely naturalized (GRIN).

Presence:

Pacific
Country/Terr./St. & Island group	Location	Cited status & Cited as invasive & Cited as cultivated & Cited as aboriginal introduction?	Reference & Comments
State of Hawaii Hawaiian Islands	Hawai‘i (Big) Island	introduced invasive	Wagner, Warren L./Herbst, Derral R./Sohmer, S. H. (1999) (p. 252)
State of Hawaii Hawaiian Islands	Kaho‘olawe Island	introduced invasive	Wagner, Warren L./Herbst, Derral R./Sohmer, S. H. (1999) (p. 252)
State of Hawaii Hawaiian Islands	Kaua‘i Island	introduced invasive	Wagner, Warren L./Herbst, Derral R./Sohmer, S. H. (1999) (p. 252) Voucher cited: U.S. Expl. Exped. s.n. (US)
State of Hawaii Hawaiian Islands	Lāna‘i Island	introduced invasive	Wagner, Warren L./Herbst, Derral R./Sohmer, S. H. (1999) (p. 252)
State of Hawaii Hawaiian Islands	Maui Island	introduced invasive	Wagner, Warren L./Herbst, Derral R./Sohmer, S. H. (1999) (p. 252)
State of Hawaii Hawaiian Islands	Moloka‘i Island	introduced invasive	Wagner, Warren L./Herbst, Derral R./Sohmer, S. H. (1999) (p. 252)
State of Hawaii Hawaiian Islands	Ni‘ihau Island	introduced invasive	Wagner, Warren L./Herbst, Derral R./Sohmer, S. H. (1999) (p. 252)
State of Hawaii Hawaiian Islands	O‘ahu Island	introduced invasive	Wagner, Warren L./Herbst, Derral R./Sohmer, S. H. (1999) (p. 252)

Additional information:
Additional online information about Acanthospermum australe is available from the Hawaiian Ecosystems at Risk project (HEAR).

Information about Acanthospermum australe as a weed (worldwide references) may be available from the Global Compendium of Weeds (GCW).

Taxonomic information about Acanthospermum australe may be available from the Germplasm Resources Information Network (GRIN).

References:

Haselwood, E. L./Motter, G. G. 1983. Handbook of Hawaiian Weeds. Second edition, revised and expanded by Robert T. Hirano. University of Hawaii Press. 491 pp.

U.S. Dept. Agr., Agr. Res. Serv. 2011. National Genetic Resources Program. Germplasm Resources Information Network (GRIN). Online searchable database.

Wagner, Warren L./Herbst, Derral R./Sohmer, S. H. 1999. Manual of the flowering plants of Hawaii. Revised edition. Bernice P. Bishop Museum special publication. University of Hawai‘i Press/Bishop Museum Press, Honolulu. 1919 pp. (two volumes).