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creeping spiderling
Scientific Name: Boerhavia spicata
Family: Nyctaginaceae
Category: Dicot
Growth: Forb/herb
Duration: Annual
Other Names:
Boerhavia spicata: Creeping Spiderling
Boerhavia spicata, commonly known as creeping spiderling, is a forb/herb belonging to the genus Boerhavia.
Considerations for Pets
- This plant is commonly known as "spiderling," which might be confused with actual spiders, which are sometimes venomous and potentially harmful to pets.
Nomenclature and Taxonomy
- Scientific Name: Boerhavia spicata Choisy
- Common Names: creeping spiderling, spiderling, red spiderling, creeping beggarweed, tar vine, spreading hogweed, sow weed
- Family: Nyctaginaceae
- Kingdom: Plantae
- Taxonomic Rank: Species
- Synonyms: Coulter spiderling, Coulter's spiderling, erect spiderling, purple spiderling
Distribution and Habitat
- Found in areas such as Las Cruces, NM, Arizona, and other parts of the United States.
- It can be found growing in washes and similar environments.
Morphological Characteristics and Growth Habits
- It is a forb/herb, meaning it's a non-woody plant that is not a grass.
- Perennial plant with few to many prostrate stems.
- Leaves are opposite, stalked, and irregularly rounded.
- Flowers are reddish and grow in widely branched, sparse bunches.
Quirky Facts
- The name "spiderling" refers to the appearance of the inflorescences, not an association with actual spiders.
- Some Spanish names include juanamipili and mochis.
Further Information
- USDA
- Discover Life
- Encyclopedia of Life
- PLANTWISE