Melampodium divaricatum (Rich.) DC., Asteraceae

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Present on Pacific Islands?  yes

Primarily a threat at high elevations?  no

Common name(s): [more details]

English: blackfoot, golden button

Spanish: botón de oro, flor amarilla, hierba del chucho, hierba del sapo

Habit:  herb

Description:  "The root is a taproot and the stem is upright, somewhat woody, branched and cylindrical and reaches heights of 50 to 80 centimeters.  The leaves are opposite, 6 to 10 centimeters long and 3 to 5 centimeters wide and have irregular margins.  The flower head is bright yellow and is born on peduncles 2 to 3 centimeters long which arise from the leaf axils"  (Cardenas et al., 1972; p. 133).

Habitat/ecology:  "Annual broadleaf plant found in pastures, cultivated and perennial crops, roadsides and ditchbanks"  (Cardenas et al., 1972; p. 133).

Propagation:  Seed (Cardenas et al., 1972; p. 133).

Native range:  Mexico, Central America, northwestern Colombia, Brazil (GRIN).

Presence:

Pacific
Country/Terr./St. & Island group	Location	Cited status & Cited as invasive & Cited as cultivated & Cited as aboriginal introduction?	Reference & Comments
Palau Palau (main island group)	Babeldaob Island	introduced cultivated	Space, James C./Lorence, David H./LaRosa, Anne Marie (2009) (p. 5) Planted as an ornamental on the national capitol grounds. Voucher: Lorence 9846 (PTBG, BNM, NY)
Palau Palau (main island group)	Babeldaob Island		National Tropical Botanical Garden (U.S.A. Hawaii. Kalaheo.) (2008) (voucher ID: PTBG 139) Taxon name on voucher: Melampodium divaricatum (Rich.) DC.

Pacific Rim
Country/Terr./St. & Island group	Location	Cited status & Cited as invasive & Cited as cultivated & Cited as aboriginal introduction?	Reference & Comments
Colombia Colombia	Colombia (Republic of)	native	U.S. Dept. Agr., Agr. Res. Serv. (2011) Northwest Colombia
Costa Rica Costa Rica	Costa Rica (Republic of)	native	U.S. Dept. Agr., Agr. Res. Serv. (2011)
El Salvador El Salvador	El Salvador (Republic of)	native	U.S. Dept. Agr., Agr. Res. Serv. (2011)
Guatemala Guatemala	Guatemala (Republic of)	native	U.S. Dept. Agr., Agr. Res. Serv. (2011)
Honduras Honduras	Honduras (Republic of)	native	U.S. Dept. Agr., Agr. Res. Serv. (2011)
Mexico Mexico	Mexico (United Mexican States)	native	U.S. Dept. Agr., Agr. Res. Serv. (2011)
Nicaragua Nicaragua	Nicaragua (Republic of)	native	U.S. Dept. Agr., Agr. Res. Serv. (2011)
Panama Panama	Panama (Republic of)	native	U.S. Dept. Agr., Agr. Res. Serv. (2011)

Comments:  "Naturalized in the West Indies and Myanmar" (GRIN).

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

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

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

References:

Cardenas, Juan/Reys, Carlos E./Doll, Jerry D./Pardo, Fernando. 1972. Tropical weeds; malezas tropicales, vol. 1. International Plant Protection Center, Oregon State University, Corvallis. 341 pp.

National Tropical Botanical Garden (U.S.A. Hawaii. Kalaheo.). 2008. Voucher specimen #PTBG139(David H. Lorence 9846).

Space, James C./Lorence, David H./LaRosa, Anne Marie. 2009. Report to the Republic of Palau: 2008 update on Invasive Plant Species. USDA Forest Service, Hilo, Hawai‘i. 227 pp.

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