Microstachys corniculata

(Vahl) A. Jussieu ex Grisebach

Fl. Brit. W. I., 49. 1859.

Common names: Hato tejas
IntroducedIllustrated
Basionym: Tragia corniculata Vahl Eclog. Amer. 2: 55, plate 19. 1798
Synonyms: Sebastiania corniculata (Vahl) Müller Arg. Stillingia corniculata (Vahl) Baillon
Treatment appears in FNA Volume 12. Treatment on page 229.

Herbs, to 0.5 m, sparsely to moderately hirsute. Stems erect. Leaves: stipules triangular to rounded, 0.2–0.4 mm; petiole 0.1–1.5 cm; blade 2–4.5 × 0.3–2 cm, base cuneate to cordate, margins serrulate with proximal teeth occasionally replaced by orbicular glands, apex acute to acuminate. Inflorescences: staminate portion on peduncle 1–2 mm, fertile part 0.5–1.5 cm, to 15 bracts and cymules, flowers 1–3 per bract; pistillate portion with 1 flower; bracts triangular, 0.2 mm, subtended by 2 stipitate-glands to 0.2 mm diam. Pedicels 0–0.2 mm, pistillate to 1 mm in fruit. Staminate flowers: sepals red-purple to greenish yellow, ovate, 0.3–0.5 mm; stamens yellow; filaments 0.2–0.3; anthers 0.2 mm. Pistillate flowers green; sepals ovate, 0.2–0.5 mm; ovary bearing short horned appendages; styles 0.3–0.6 mm. Capsules subglobose, 3–4 mm diam.; horned appendages 2–3 per valve, to 1 mm. Seeds 3 × 2 mm; seed-coat brown, warty; caruncle discoid, 0.5–0.8 mm diam., stipitate on projection of seed-coat.


Phenology: Flowering and fruiting summer–fall.
Habitat: Dry, disturbed sandhills.
Elevation: 0–40 m.

Distribution

Introduced; Fla., Mexico, West Indies, Central America, South America

Discussion

Microstachys corniculata is a weedy species that is adventive and becoming established in Hillsborough County. It has the potential to become broadly naturalized across subtropical parts of the United States. Because this species is widespread in the West Indies, including Cuba, a 1906 collection from Key West may represent a native occurrence.

Selected References

None.

Lower Taxa

None.

"connate" is not a number. "distinct" is not a number.

... more about "Microstachys corniculata"
0.2 cm2 mm <br />0.002 m <br /> (?) +
acute;acuminate +
Kenneth J. Wurdack +
(Vahl) A. Jussieu ex Grisebach +
not persisting +
cuneate +  and cordate +
Tragia corniculata +
2 cm20 mm <br />0.02 m <br /> (4.5 cm45 mm <br />0.045 m <br />) +
unlobed +
0.3 cm3 mm <br />0.003 m <br /> (2 cm20 mm <br />0.02 m <br />) +
triangular +
0.2 cm2 mm <br />0.002 m <br /> (?) +
0.3 cm3 mm <br />0.003 m <br /> (0.4 cm4 mm <br />0.004 m <br />) +
subglobose +
0.05 cm0.5 mm <br />5.0e-4 m <br /> (0.08 cm0.8 mm <br />8.0e-4 m <br />) +
Hato tejas +
Fla. +, Mexico +, West Indies +, Central America +  and South America +
0–40 m. +
pistillate +  and staminate +
subtending +
orbicular +
Dry, disturbed sandhills. +
leaf-opposed +, terminal +  and axillary +
bisexual +  and unisexual +
palmate +  and pinnate +
crenate +, repand +  and subentire +
0.5 cm5 mm <br />0.005 m <br /> (1.5 cm15 mm <br />0.015 m <br />) +
0 cm0 mm <br />0 m <br /> (0.1 cm1 mm <br />0.001 m <br />) +
0.1 cm1 mm <br />0.001 m <br /> (0.2 cm2 mm <br />0.002 m <br />) +
connate;distinct +
0.1 cm1 mm <br />0.001 m <br /> (1.5 cm15 mm <br />0.015 m <br />) +
Flowering and fruiting summer–fall. +
pistillate +  and staminate +
Fl. Brit. W. I., +
3 cm30 mm <br />0.03 m <br /> (?) +
2 cm20 mm <br />0.02 m <br /> (?) +
red-purple +  and greenish yellow +
distinct +
0.02 cm0.2 mm <br />2.0e-4 m <br /> (0.05 cm0.5 mm <br />5.0e-4 m <br />) +
Introduced +  and Illustrated +
0 cm0 mm <br />0 m <br /> (0.02 cm0.2 mm <br />2.0e-4 m <br />) +
triangular +  and rounded +
0.02 cm0.2 mm <br />2.0e-4 m <br /> (0.04 cm0.4 mm <br />4.0e-4 m <br />) +
multifid +  and 2-fid +
0.03 cm0.3 mm <br />3.0e-4 m <br /> (?) +  and 0.06 cm0.6 mm <br />6.0e-4 m <br /> (?) +
Sebastiania corniculata +  and Stillingia corniculata +
Microstachys corniculata +
Microstachys +
species +
axillary +, leaf-opposed +  and terminal +
racemelike +