SafePlants

No images found for this plant ID: 42381.

Ensure images are uploaded to the Media Library and tagged with "42381" in the "plant_image_tag" taxonomy.

Safe for Children?

✅ Safe: 0
❓ Neutral: 0
❌ Unsafe: 0

Safe for Dogs?

✅ Safe: 0
❓ Neutral: 0
❌ Unsafe: 0

Safe for Cats?

✅ Safe: 0
❓ Neutral: 0
❌ Unsafe: 0

Safe for Reptiles?

✅ Safe: 0
❓ Neutral: 0
❌ Unsafe: 0

sphenoclea

Scientific Name: Sphenoclea

Family: Sphenocleaceae

Category: Dicot

Growth:

Duration:

Other Names:

       

Sphenoclea zeylanica: Gooseweed

Sphenoclea zeylanica, commonly known as gooseweed or chickenspike, is an annual herb found throughout the tropics. This plant belongs to the monotypic family Sphenocleaceae.

Considerations for Pets

  • As a succulent plant, its leaves can be attractive to some animals.

Taxonomy and Nomenclature

  • Scientific Name: Sphenoclea zeylanica Gaertn.
  • Common Names: Gooseweed, Chickenspike, Wedgewort, Herbes aux oies (French), &#23574&#29923&#33457 (Chinese)
  • Family: Sphenocleaceae
  • Order: Solanales
  • Synonyms:
    • Gaertnera pongati Retz.
    • Pongatium indicum
    • Pongatium spongiosum Blanco
    • Pongatium zeylanicum (Gaertn.) Kuntze
    • Rapinia herbacea L.
    • Reichelia palustris Blanco
    • Sphenoclea pongatium A. DC.

Distribution and Habitat

  • Sphenoclea zeylanica is widely distributed throughout the tropics.
  • It thrives in damp habitats, such as rice paddies and other wetlands.
  • It has been documented in North America.

Ecological Role

  • Sphenoclea zeylanica is often considered a common weed, particularly in rice paddies.
  • Philippine strains have evolved resistance to herbicides such as 2,4-D.

Morphological Characteristics

  • Sphenoclea zeylanica is an erect or suberect, glabrous, semi-aquatic annual herb.
  • It can grow up to 1.5 meters (approximately 4 feet) tall.
  • The plant often exhibits much branching and typically ranges from 7 to 150 cm in height.
  • It possesses an erect, cylindrical, and hollow stem.
  • It is considered a succulent herb.

Interactions with Other Organisms

  • Its shoots are sometimes eaten with rice.
  • Research has been conducted on the biological control of Sphenoclea zeylanica using Alternaria alternata f. sp. sphenocleae.

Conservation Status

  • Sphenoclea zeylanica is classified as Least Concern due to its widespread distribution and the absence of known major threats.

Further Information

  • Germplasm Resources Information Network (GRIN), U.S. Department of Agriculture Agricultural Research Service.
  • Pacific Island Ecosystems at Risk project (PIER).
  • The Plant List
  • Encyclopedia of Life