Volume 13 > Part 2 > Year 2016 > Page 355 > Compositae (Asteraceae) > Melampodium

Melampodium divaricatum (Rich.) DC.wfo-0000031493

Prodr. 5: 520. 1836; Backer & Bakh.f., Fl. Java 1: 398. 1965; Stuessy, Rhodora 74: 175. 1972; Grierson, Revis. Handb. Fl. Ceylon 1: 205. 1980.— Dysodium divaricatum Rich. In Pers., Syn. Pl. 2: 489. 1807.

Accepted Name : This is currently accepted.

Description : Annual herb, to 0.6 m tall; stems with two lines of pubescence on opposite sides. Leaves broadly elliptic or ovate, 3–10 by 1–5 cm, apex acute, base attenuate, margins coarsely and irregularly sinuate, serrate, both surfaces sparsely and shortly hispid, 3-veined; petioles winged, 0.5–3 cm long, wing margins pubescent. Capitula ca 2 cm diam. at flowering; involucres hemispherical, ca 5 by 7 cm; phyllaries biseriate, outer 5, foliaceous, broadly ovate, ca 5 by 4.5 mm, slightly accrescent in fruit, lower third connate, margins ciliate, inner phyllaries completely enclosing outer achenes; receptacle columnar in fruit, paleaceous, paleae oblong, ca 3 mm long, apex rounded, flattened, lacerate. Ray florets ca 10 per capitulum, uniseriate, pistillate, fertile; ray limbs yellow, elliptic, 6–8 by 3–4 mm, basal tube minute. Disc florets ca 53 per capitulum, bisexual, sterile; corollas yellow, 3–3.5 mm long, apex 5-lobed, turning brown on fading. Achenes trigonous, with short point on posterior angle, top flattened, 3–3.5 by 2–2.5 mm, wrinkled on both sides; pappus absent.

Thailand : CENTRAL: Krung Thep Maha Nakhon (Bangkok).

Distribution : Native of Mexico, C America and adjacent parts of S America (type Colombia). Now introduced and cultivated in various countries of E Asia.

Ecology : Cultivated as a garden ornamental, but escaped and established near Buddhist temples, 10–200 m alt. Flowering: probably throughout the year.

Vernacular : Kradum thong (กระดุมทอง)(Bangkok, Nong Khai); phikun thong (พิกุลทอง)(Bangkok, Prachuap Khiri Khan).