Alternanthera pubiflora (Benth.) Kuntze, Amaranthaceae

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Present on Pacific Islands?  yes

Primarily a threat at high elevations?  no

Other Latin names:  Brandisia pubiflora Benth.

Habit:  herb

Description:  "Suffrutescent, probably perennial.  Stems richly branched, erect, scandent, or clambering on neighbouring vegetation, 0.5-2.0 m tall, faintly striate, subglabrous to puberulous or scaberulous below, puberulous, thickly appressed-pubescent or pilose in upper parts, internodes 5-15 cm long.  Leaves petiolate; petiole 5-10 mm long, puberulous to appressed-pilose; blade ovate, ovate-elliptic, ovate-lanceolate, or elliptic, acute to acuminate at apex, cuneate and gradually tapering along petiole at base, mostly 5-10 cm long and 2.5-6.0 cm wide, short-pubescent or appressed-puberulent on both sides, rarely subglabrous, generally with 6-8 (-10) main lateral veins on each side of midnerve.  Inflorescences terminal and axillary, pedunculate, commonly with about 3 heads in top of plant and 1-3 heads at several nodes; peduncles normally (1-) 2-5 cm long, generally shorter than the leaves of the same node, pilose, short-villous or thickly appressed-pubescent with whitish trichomes.  Heads subglobose to short-cylindric, mostly 8-12 mm wide, white, greenish white, or stramineous.  Bract and bracteoles subequal in length, ovate, 2.0-3.5 mm long, pointed, subglabrous to richly pubescent, especially along midrib, midrib distinct, sometimes excurrent in a point, bracteoles curved at apex.  Flowers subsessile to short-pedicellate within bracteoles, pedicels normally up to 0.5 mm long.  Tepals 5, subequal in length, oblong-lanceolate, pointed, 4-6 mm long, 1.5-2.5 times as long as bracteoles, moderately to richly whitish-pilose, 3-ribbed, midrib not excurrent, two innermost (=lateral) tepals rounded dorsally, not sharply keeled. Stamens 5, mostly shorter than tepals, staminal tube cleft from about middle to about 3/4 of its length, filaments subulate, slightly widening towards base, anthers narrowly oblong, ca 1.5 mm long, pseudostaminodia ligulate, exceeding anthers, laciniate.  Ovary narrowed above into a conical style"  (Eliasson, 1987; pp. 95-97, 99).

Habitat/ecology:  "A lowland species that is well established in the coastal provinces of Ecuador" (Eliasson, 1987; pp. 95-97, 99).

Propagation:  Seed

Native range:  Chile, Colombia, Ecuador and Peru (GRIN)

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) Isabela Group	Isabela Island	possibly introduced invasive	Charles Darwin Foundation (2008)
Ecuador (Galápagos Islands) Isabela Group	Volcán Sierra Negra, Isabela Island	possibly introduced invasive	Charles Darwin Foundation (2008)
Ecuador (Galápagos Islands) Santa Cruz Group	Santa Cruz Island	possibly introduced invasive	Charles Darwin Foundation (2008)

Pacific Rim
Country/Terr./St. & Island group	Location	Cited status & Cited as invasive & Cited as cultivated & Cited as aboriginal introduction?	Reference & Comments
South America (Pacific rim) South America (Pacific rim)	Chile (Republic of)	native	Eliasson, Uno (1987) (p. 99)
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	Eliasson, Uno (1987) (p. 99)
South America (Pacific rim) South America (Pacific rim)	Perú (Republic of)	native	U.S. Dept. Agr., Agr. Res. Serv. (2013)

Comments:  Probably not native to the Galápagos Islands, possibly introduced, per Charles Darwin Research Station.

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