Volume 13 > Part 2 > Year 2016 > Page 284 > Compositae (Asteraceae) > Eclipta

Eclipta prostrata (L.) L.wfo-0000108811

Mant. Pl. Altera 286. 1771; Roxb., Fl. Ind. 3: 438. 1832.— Verbesina prostrata L., Sp. Pl. 2: 902. 1753. Fig. 48; Plate XXV: 6.

Accepted Name : This is currently accepted.

Synonyms & Citations :

Description : Annual herb, 5–45 cm tall; stems erect or prostrate, reddish, ascending, often rooting at nodes, stiffly appressed pilose and with soft, patent hairs. Leaves simple, elliptic-lanceolate, 0.75–5.5 by 0.15–1.5 cm, apex narrowly acute, base attenuate and quite strongly 3-veined, margins largely serrate, both surfaces stiffly appressed pilose. Inflorescences of 1–2 capitula on short peduncles in axils of upper leaves; peduncles slender, 0.5–4 cm long. Capitula radiate; ca 6 mm diam. at flowering, ca 9 mm diam. in fruit; involucres campanulate, ca 5 by 3–5 mm; phyllaries biseriate, outer herbaceous, oblong-ovate, 4–6 by 1.5–3 mm, apex acute, covered with stiff appressed pilose hairs; receptacle flattish, slightly convex, paleaceous, paleae linear, 3–3.5 mm long, appressed pubescent. Ray florets many per capitulum, biseriate; rays white, lanceolate, 1.5–2.5 by ca 0.25 mm, apex bifid, minutely hairy, basal tube 0.5 mm long. Disc florets 10–15 per capitulum; corollas white, tubular 1.5–1.75 mm long, apex 4-lobed. Achenes oblong or obovate, 3–3.5 by 1.5 mm, triquetrous or compressed with one central rib on each side, tuberculate, margins thin, smooth, apex truncate, sparsely and minutely setuliferous; pappus of 2 minute weak scales ca 0.25 mm long.

Thailand : NORTHERN: Mae Hong Son (Huai Yuak), Chiang Mai (Fang, Mae Rim to Samoeng Road; Chiang Mai), Chiang Rai (Wat Tham Saohin Phayanak), Lampang (Doi Pang La), Phitsanulok (Bang Rakam), Tak (Lansang NP, Khao Phra Wo); NORTH-EASTERN: Phetachabun (Nam Nao NP); Loei (Phu Kradueng, Ban Wong Wian), Nong Khai (Buengkan; Si Chiang Mai), Khon Kaen (Phaphuang Forest Park, Phothiyan Cave); EASTERN: Nakhon Ratchasima (Khao Yai NP); SOUTH-WESTERN: Uthai Thani (Huai Kha Khaeng WS), Kanchanaburi (Sai Yok; Khao Kamphaeng), Prachuap Khiri Khan (Bang Saphan); CENTRAL: Phra Nakhon Si Ayutthaya, Saraburi (Phu Khae Botanic Garden, Tham Phra Phothisat), Pathum Thani, Krung Thep Maha Nakhon (Bangkok) (Bang Khen – type: Iwatsuki T-254, holotype -KYO, isotypes -BKF TNS; Soi Somprasong), Samut Prakan (Ban Bang Pu Kao), Suphan Buri (U-thong); SOUTH-EASTERN: Prachin Buri (Khao Yai NP; Chakan Arboretum); PENINSULAR: Narathiwat (Su-ngai Kolok).

Distribution : A native of the New World tropics, but now widespread in the Old World and introduced in Asia.

Ecology : A weed of moist ground and paddy fields, 0–1,000 m alt. Flowering: most of the year.

Vernacular : Ka meng (กะเม็ง)(Central); ka meng tua mia (กะเม็งตัวเมีย)(Central); khat meng (คัดเม็ง)(Central); bang-ki-chao (บังกีเช้า)(Chinese); ya sap (หญ้าสับ)(Northern); hom kiao (ฮ่อมเกี่ยว)(Northern).

CommonName : False daisy.

Notes: Eclipta prostrata is very variable in habit, leaf shape, hairiness of peduncles and form of achenes. Careful observation of the achene form and leaf shapes have revealed that E. prostrata includes all the variation formerly treated under E. angustata and E. thermalis.