Alternanthera caracasana H.B.K., Amaranthaceae

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Present on Pacific Islands?  yes

Primarily a threat at high elevations?  no

Other Latin names:  Alternanthera peploides (Willd. ex Roem. & Schult.) Urb.

Common name(s): [more details]

Chinese: ci hua lian zi cao

English: mat chaff flower

Habit:  herb

Description:  "Perennial herbs; stems prostrate, sometimes rooting at the nodes, 1-5 dm long, moderately to densely pilose, the hairs multicellular.  Leaves oblanceolate to obovate or suborbicular, (0.8-) 1.5-2 (-3) cm long, 0.5-1.2 cm wide, sparsely pilose, petioles 0.3-1.5 cm long, moderately pilose.  Flowers in sessile, densely pubescent spikes, bract 3-4 mm long, tipped with a spine ca. 0.5-0.7 mm long, bracteoles ca. 3 mm long, acuminate, bract and bracteoles densely pilose at least below; sepals unequal, the 2 abaxial ones 3.5-4.2 mm long, spine-tipped, the spine less than 1 mm long, other sepals spineless, the adaxial one ca. 3 mm long, the 2 inner ones 2-2.5 mm long, all sepals pilose, the adaxial one only at base; stamens 5, all fertile.  Utricles 1-1.5 mm long, enclosed by the sepals"  (Wagner et al., 1999; p. 183).

Habitat/ecology:  In Hawai‘i, "naturalized in dry areas, roadsides, lawns, and beach parks" (Wagner et al., 1999; p. 183). In New Caledonia, "bords de route, peu commun" (MacKee, 1994; p. 11).

Propagation:  Seed

Native range:  "Native to Africa, the Canary Islands, and the Western Hemisphere" (Wagner et al., 1999; p. 183).

Presence:

Pacific
Country/Terr./St. & Island group	Location	Cited status & Cited as invasive & Cited as cultivated & Cited as aboriginal introduction?	Reference & Comments
Ecuador (Galápagos Islands) San Cristóbal Group	San Cristóbal Island	introduced invasive	Charles Darwin Foundation (2008)
State of Hawaii Hawaiian Islands	Kaua‘i Island	introduced invasive	Wagner, Warren L./Herbst, Derral R./Sohmer, S. H. (1999) (p. 183)
State of Hawaii Hawaiian Islands	Lāna‘i Island	introduced invasive	Wagner, Warren L./Herbst, Derral R./Sohmer, S. H. (1999) (p. 183)
State of Hawaii Hawaiian Islands	Maui Island	introduced invasive	Wagner, Warren L./Herbst, Derral R./Sohmer, S. H. (1999) (p. 183)
State of Hawaii Hawaiian Islands	Moloka‘i Island	introduced invasive	Wagner, Warren L./Herbst, Derral R./Sohmer, S. H. (1999) (p. 183)
State of Hawaii Hawaiian Islands	O‘ahu Island	introduced invasive	Wagner, Warren L./Herbst, Derral R./Sohmer, S. H. (1999) (p. 183) Voucher cited: Degener 8670 (BISH)
New Caledonia New Caledonia Archipelago	Île Grande Terre	introduced invasive	MacKee, H. S. (1994) (p. 11) Vouchers cited: MacKee 26494, MacKee 46094

Pacific Rim
Country/Terr./St. & Island group	Location	Cited status & Cited as invasive & Cited as cultivated & Cited as aboriginal introduction?	Reference & Comments
Central America Central America (Pacific rim)	Costa Rica (Republic of)	native	U.S. Dept. Agr., Agr. Res. Serv. (2013)
Central America Central America (Pacific rim)	Guatemala (Republic of)	native	U.S. Dept. Agr., Agr. Res. Serv. (2013)
China China	China (People's Republic of)	introduced invasive	Zhengyi, Wu/Raven, Peter H./Deyuan, Hong (2013) As Alternanthera pungens, misapplied. Roadsides. Fujian, Sichuan.
Mexico Mexico	Mexico (United Mexican States)	native	U.S. Dept. Agr., Agr. Res. Serv. (2013)
South America (Pacific rim) South America (Pacific rim)	Colombia	native	U.S. Dept. Agr., Agr. Res. Serv. (2013)
South America (Pacific rim) South America (Pacific rim)	Ecuador (Republic of) (continental)	native	U.S. Dept. Agr., Agr. Res. Serv. (2013)
South America (Pacific rim) South America (Pacific rim)	Perú (Republic of)	native	U.S. Dept. Agr., Agr. Res. Serv. (2013)
United States (west coast) United States (west coast states)	USA (California)	introduced	U.S. Dept. Agr., Nat. Res. Cons. Serv. (2013)

Also reported from
Country/Terr./St. & Island group	Location	Cited status & Cited as invasive & Cited as cultivated & Cited as aboriginal introduction?	Reference & Comments
United States (continental except west coast) United States (other states)	United States (other states)	introduced	U.S. Dept. Agr., Nat. Res. Cons. Serv. (2013)
United States (continental except west coast) United States (other states)	USA (Florida)	introduced	U.S. Dept. Agr., Nat. Res. Cons. Serv. (2013)

Control:  If you know of control methods for Alternanthera caracasana, please let us know.