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Alternanthera pungens
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Family:
AMARANTHACEAE
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Citation: Alternanthera pungens Kunth in HBK, Nov. Gen. Sp. 2: 206. 1817; Ramach. & V.J. Nair, Fl. Cannanore Dist. 376. 1988; Antony, Syst. Stud. Fl. Kottayam Dist. 333. 1989; Sasidh., Fl. Periyar Tiger Reserve 329. 1998; Sasidh., Fl. Parambikulam WLS 254. 2002; Sunil & Sivadasan, Fl. Alappuzha Dist. 591. 2009; Ratheesh Narayanan, Fl. Stud. Wayanad Dist. 670. 2009.
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Malayalam Name(s):
Ottara mul, Thevadiyaal mul
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Tamil name(s):
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English name(s):
Khaki weed
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Description:
Prostrate herbs. Leaves to 1.5 x 1 cm, deltoid to obovate, apex obtuse, base narrowed, short, glabrous. Spikes to 10 x 6 mm, 2-3 together, axillary, sessile; bracts and bracteoles equal, 5 mm long, scarious, aristate. Flowers densely packed; tepals 5, outer three larger, 5 mm long, lanceolate, aristate, one oblong, obtuse, inner smaller, boat shaped, keeled, aristate, all 3-ribbed, barbed at base; stamens 5, filaments united at base; ovary obovoid, stigma capitate.
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Habit:
Herb
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Flowering & Fruiting:
May-June
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District(s):
Palakkad, Kottayam, Alappuzha, Idukki, Kannur, Wayanad
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Medicinal:
Yes
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Habitat:
Wastelands and degraded deciduous forests
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Distribution:
Native of American; now wide spread as a weed in the tropics and subtropics of the Old World
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Aquatic:
No
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Epiphyte(s):
No
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Saprophyte:
No
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Stem parasite:
No
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Root parasite:
No
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Flower colour(s):
White
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Weed:
Yes
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Monocot/Dicot:
Dicotyledonous Plants
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Exotic:
Yes
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Garden:
No
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Edible:
No
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Vegetable:
No
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Endemic to:
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IUCN status:
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Altitude:
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Localities:
Thekkady, Kuchimudi, Baveli, Arattupuzha
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