Dark blue snakeweed
Stachytarpheta cayennensis, Fam. Verbenaceae
Clumping perennial woody-based sub-shrub to about 2m tall. Stems four-angled and generally purplish.
| Weed Category: |
Other invasive plants Invasive plants that are not prohibited or restricted invasive plants, but are known to spread readily and cause negative impacts, within the region.
|
| Weed: | Yes |
| Form or habit: | Shrub |
| Family: | Verbenaceae |
| Leaf: | Simple Opposite Simple, opposite or sometimes alternate, oval or lance-shaped, thin textured and usually sparsely hairy leaves.. |
| Flower conspicuous: | Conspicuous |
| Flower colour: |
Blue, Purple |
| Flower description: | Dark purplish blue flowers with paler centres are borne on slender spikes, up to 30 x 2.5mm. |
| Fruit conspicuous: | Inconspicuous |
| Fruit colour: |
Black, Brown |
| Fruit: | Dry |
| Fruit description: | Dry, enclosed in floral remnants, turning dark brown to black and splitting at maturity into two, 1 seeded segments. |
| Habitat: | |
| Distribution | |
| Food source for: | |
| Toxicity: | No toxicity known |
| Origin: | Tropical and subtropical |
| Notes: | Spread by: seeds; contaminated soil and in contaminated pasture seed or fodder. Invades/threats: degraded pastures, cropland and disturbed or abandoned areas, woodland on any soil type. Notes: originally introduced as a garden ornamental. Its presence usually indicates past disturbance; it spreads rapidly by seeds and is favoured by overgrazing, either by native or introduced animals. Environmental weed. |
| Information sources: | Mackay Regional Pest Management Group (2018) Weeds of the Mackay Whitsunday Region Second Edition. |
