''Alternanthera caracasana'' is a species of flowering plant in the family
Amaranthaceae
Amaranthaceae is a family of flowering plants commonly known as the amaranth family, in reference to its type genus ''Amaranthus''. It includes the former goosefoot family Chenopodiaceae and contains about 165 genera and 2,040 species, making it ...
known by the common names khakiweed, washerwoman and mat chaff flower. It is native to Central and South America but is well-known elsewhere as a
noxious weed
A noxious weed, harmful weed or injurious weed is a weed that has been designated by an agricultural or other governing authority as a plant that is injurious to agricultural or horticultural crops, natural habitats or ecosystems, or humans or liv ...
. It is naturalized in some areas and invasive in others and can be found across the southern half of the United States, Australia (where many people are unaware it is not native), Spain and parts of Africa. The plant has long, prostrate stems covered in small leaves which vary in shape from diamond to rounded. It grows from a
rhizome
In botany and dendrology, a rhizome (; , ) is a modified subterranean plant stem that sends out roots and shoots from its nodes. Rhizomes are also called creeping rootstalks or just rootstalks. Rhizomes develop from axillary buds and grow hori ...
and often roots from its lower nodes. Each
spike inflorescence is under a centimeter wide and is covered in tiny stiff white flowers. This is a tough weed of lots, roads, railroad tracks, cleared areas, and other places that are rough, sandy, and often well-traveled.
It is often confused with
khaki burr, which it is related to, but it sports masses of sharp V-shaped prickles that are easily detached and embed themselves in the feet and skin.
Gallery
Image:Khaki weed (Alternanthera pungens) in Hyderabad, AP W IMG 8030.jpg, In Hyderabad
Hyderabad ( ; , ) is the capital and largest city of the Indian state of Telangana and the ''de jure'' capital of Andhra Pradesh. It occupies on the Deccan Plateau along the banks of the Musi River (India), Musi River, in the northern part ...
, India
Image:Khaki weed (Alternanthera pungens) in Hyderabad, AP W2 IMG 8030.jpg, In Hyderabad
Image:Khaki weed (Alternanthera pungens) flowers with Dark Grass Blue (Zizeeria karsandra) in Hyderabad, AP W IMG 8029.jpg, With a dark grass blue ('' Zizeeria karsandra'') in Hyderabad
References
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External links
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Jepson Manual TreatmentUSDA Plants ProfileRoyal Botanic Gardens Kew - Flora Zambesiaca
caracasana
Plants described in 1818
{{Amaranthaceae-stub