ECLIPTA PROSTRATA

Family:- COMPOSITAE

Common Names:- None

Synonyms:- Click here for a full list of homotypic synonyms.

Meaning:- Eclipta (Gr) Deficient (has few receptacular scales).

Prostrata (L) Lying flat but not rooting, prostrate.

General description:- Much-branched annual.

Stems:-

1) 20-90 cm.strigose.

Leaves:-

1) 4-13 x 0·8-2 cm, oblong to lanceolate, remotely serrate, acute, sessile or the

lower petiolate.

Flowers:-

1) Capitula small, hemispherical, axillary.

2) Involucral bracts c. 5 mm, campanulate.

3) Phyllaries herbaceous, exceeding the florets.

4) Receptacular, scales setaceous, ciliate at the apex.

5) Ligules c. 6 mm, white.

Fruit:-

1) Achenes oblong, laterally compressed.

2) Pappus with minute teeth.

Click here for a glossary of terms used.

Habitat:- Estuaries, rice-fields and other wet places near the sea.

Distribution:- Probably native in tropical South America, widely naturalised in

tropical and warm-temperate regions including SW Asia. Recently reported from a

few localities in S. Greece. Remains rare across the Aegean and previously

unrecorded from Crete, until discovered by Marinos Gogolos in the area of Patsos

Gorge west Crete.

Flowering time:- Autumn and winter.

Photos by:- Marinos Gogolos