Thalia geniculata L., Marantaceae

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Present on Pacific Islands?  no

Primarily a threat at high elevations?  no

Other Latin names:  Thalia welwitschii Ridl.

Common name(s): [more details]

English: arrowroot, bent alligator-flag, fire-flag

Spanish: bocachica, platanillo

Habit:  herb

Description:  "It has a fibrous root and an erect, herbaceous, finely pubescent stem that grows from 1 to 2.5 meters tall and produces rhizomes.  The ovate-lanceolate leaves are alternate and entire with pinnate venation.  The lower part of petiole forms a sheath.  The inflorescence is a panicle with sessile green to white flowers.  The fruit is a fleshy capsule"  (Cardenas et al., 1972; p. 233).

Habitat/ecology:  "Perennial aquatic weed found in swamps, flooded areas and river banks"  (Cardenas et al., 1972; p. 233).

Propagation:  Seed and rhizomes (Cardenas et al., 1972; p. 233).

Native range:  Central Africa, United States, Mexico, Central and South America (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	O‘ahu Island		Bishop Museum (U.S.A. Hawaii. Honolulu.) (1943) (voucher ID: BISH 590849) Taxon name on voucher: Thalia geniculata L.

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)
Costa Rica Costa Rica	Costa Rica (Republic of)	native	U.S. Dept. Agr., Agr. Res. Serv. (2011)
Ecuador (Mainland) Ecuador	Ecuador (Republic of) (continental)	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)
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)

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)	USA (Florida)	native	U.S. Dept. Agr., Agr. Res. Serv. (2011)

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

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

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

References:

Bishop Museum (U.S.A. Hawaii. Honolulu.). 1943. Voucher specimen #BISH590849(Neal, M.C. s.n.).

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.

U. S. Government. 2011. Integrated Taxonomic Information System (ITIS) (on-line resource).

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