Lepidagathis alopecuroidea (Vahl) R. Br. ex Griseb., Acanthaceae

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Present on Pacific Islands?  no

Primarily a threat at high elevations?  yes

Other Latin names:  Ruellia alopecuroidea Vahl; Teliostachya alopecuroidea (Vahl) Nees

Habit:  herb

Description:  "Perennial herbs, decumbent or ascending, the slender stems sometimes to 50 cm. long, rooting at the lower nodes, more or less short-pilose; leaves petiolate, the blades ovate, lance-ovate, or elliptic, mostly 2-6 cm. long, acute or obtuse, abruptly contracted at the base and more or less decurrent on the petiole, sparsely short-pilose on both surfaces, the cystoliths numerous; inflorescences mostly terminal, 2-8 cm. long, 0.8-1.5 cm. in diameter, very densely flowered; bracts green, ovate to lanceolate or oblong, 4-6 mm. long, venose, ciliate, spinose-tipped; calyx lobes unequal, 4-6 mm. long, the posterior one obovate, the anterior ones lanceolate, connate below, the lateral ones linear; corolla white or lavender, about equalling the calyx; capsule glabrous, about 4 mm. long, containing 4 lenticular seeds" (Standley et al., 1974; p. 452).

Habitat/ecology:  In Guatemala (native), "damp or wet forest or thickets, or on open hillsides or meadows, near sea level to 1,400 m" (Standley et al., 1974; p. 452). "Naturalized in the Lesser Antilles in shady places and forest clearings at middle to high elevation"  (Meyer & Lavergne, 2004; p. 338).

Propagation:  "Seeds and probably by stem cuttings (Fournet & Hammerton, 1991, cited in Meyer & Lavergne, 2004; p. 338).

Native range:  West Africa, West Indies, Mexico, Central and South America (GRIN).

Presence:

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	Standley, Paul C./Williams, Louis O./Gibson, Dorothy Nash (1974) (p. 452) As Teliostachya alopecuroidea (Vahl) Nees
Central America Central America (Pacific rim)	Nicaragua (Republic of)	native	U.S. Dept. Agr., Agr. Res. Serv. (2013)
Central America Central America (Pacific rim)	Panama (Republic of)	native	U.S. Dept. Agr., Agr. Res. Serv. (2013)
Mexico Mexico	Mexico (United Mexican States)	native	U.S. Dept. Agr., Agr. Res. Serv. (2013) Chiapas, Oaxaca, Tabasco, Veracruz
South America (Pacific rim) South America (Pacific rim)	Colombia	native	U.S. Dept. Agr., Agr. Res. Serv. (2013)

Control:  If you know of control methods for Lepidagathis alopecuroidea, please let us know.