Stachytarpheta mutabilis | |
---|---|
Scientific classification | |
Kingdom: | Plantae |
Clade: | Tracheophytes |
Clade: | Angiosperms |
Clade: | Eudicots |
Clade: | Asterids |
Order: | Lamiales |
Family: | Verbenaceae |
Genus: | Stachytarpheta |
Species: | S. mutabilis
|
Binomial name | |
Stachytarpheta mutabilis | |
Synonyms [1] | |
|
Stachytarpheta mutabilis is a species of flowering plant in the verbena family known by the common names changeable velvetberry, [2] coral porterweed, pink snakeweed, red snakeweed, [3] and pink rat tail. [4] It is native to Mexico, the Caribbean, and South America. [3] It can be found in many other places as an introduced species. It is cultivated as an ornamental plant. [4]
This species is a perennial herb or subshrub generally growing 10 to 20 centimeters tall, sometimes reaching half a meter. The hairy stems have oppositely arranged leaves. The leaf blades are leathery in texture and oblong or lance-shaped. They measure up to 12 centimeters long. The inflorescence is a narrow spike up to 60 centimeters long. The flowers come in many shades of red and pink. [4]
This species sometimes escapes cultivation and becomes established in the wild. It can be weedy, growing in disturbed habitat such as pastures and roadsides. [4]
This plant is an introduced invasive species in Fiji, Hawaii, Queensland, and Singapore. [4]
The flowers are attractive to a variety of insects. The butterflies Ornithoptera priamus poseidon and Papilio ulysses have been observed foraging on the plant, as has the bee Amegilla sapiens. [5] Parts of the plant contain the iridoid glycoside ipolamiide, which inhibits insect predation on the plant. [6]
Stachytarpheta mutabilis | |
---|---|
Scientific classification | |
Kingdom: | Plantae |
Clade: | Tracheophytes |
Clade: | Angiosperms |
Clade: | Eudicots |
Clade: | Asterids |
Order: | Lamiales |
Family: | Verbenaceae |
Genus: | Stachytarpheta |
Species: | S. mutabilis
|
Binomial name | |
Stachytarpheta mutabilis | |
Synonyms [1] | |
|
Stachytarpheta mutabilis is a species of flowering plant in the verbena family known by the common names changeable velvetberry, [2] coral porterweed, pink snakeweed, red snakeweed, [3] and pink rat tail. [4] It is native to Mexico, the Caribbean, and South America. [3] It can be found in many other places as an introduced species. It is cultivated as an ornamental plant. [4]
This species is a perennial herb or subshrub generally growing 10 to 20 centimeters tall, sometimes reaching half a meter. The hairy stems have oppositely arranged leaves. The leaf blades are leathery in texture and oblong or lance-shaped. They measure up to 12 centimeters long. The inflorescence is a narrow spike up to 60 centimeters long. The flowers come in many shades of red and pink. [4]
This species sometimes escapes cultivation and becomes established in the wild. It can be weedy, growing in disturbed habitat such as pastures and roadsides. [4]
This plant is an introduced invasive species in Fiji, Hawaii, Queensland, and Singapore. [4]
The flowers are attractive to a variety of insects. The butterflies Ornithoptera priamus poseidon and Papilio ulysses have been observed foraging on the plant, as has the bee Amegilla sapiens. [5] Parts of the plant contain the iridoid glycoside ipolamiide, which inhibits insect predation on the plant. [6]