Aspilia kotschyi | |
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Aspilia kotschyi (Asteraceae), a weed in disturbed areas | |
Scientific classification
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Kingdom: | Plantae |
Clade: | Tracheophytes |
Clade: | Angiosperms |
Clade: | Eudicots |
Clade: | Asterids |
Order: | Asterales |
Family: | Asteraceae |
Genus: | Aspilia |
Species: | A. kotschyi
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Binomial name | |
Aspilia kotschyi (Sch.Bip. ex Hochst.) Oliv.
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Aspilia kotschyi is an annual herbaceous species with ovate to narrowly lanceolate leaves and dark red-purple flowers commonly found Tropical Africa. [1] It has a variety, Aspilia kotschyi var. alba which has white flowers. [2]
Leaves are simple and opposite in arrangement and borne from the stem; leaf-blade is ovate to narrowly lanceolate, 3–16 cm long and 1–4 cm wide. [1] Inflorescence is capitulum type, solitary, axillary or sessile clustered around the upper surface of leaves, it has ovoid bracts and small dark purple-brown ray and disc flowers; phyllary is green but brownish around the base. [1] [2]
Endemic to Tropical Africa, it occurs from Senegal eastwards towards Ethiopia and southwards up to Zimbabwe. [1]