Sphagneticola trilobata - Florida Natural Areas Inventory

Common Name: wedelia

Family: Asteraceae

Common Synonyms: Wedelia triloba, Complaya trilobata, Silphium trilobatum

USDA Hardiness Zone: 9a-11

Growth Habit: Forb/Herb

Origin: Mexico, Central and South America

FISC Category: 2

FDACS Listed Noxious Weed: No

Introduction Date: pre-1933

IFAS Assessment:

North: INVASIVE
Central: INVASIVE
South: INVASIVE

Sphagneticola trilobata — Brenda Herring

Description

Creeping, mat forming perennial herb. Stems pubescent, somewhat succulent, to 2 m tall. Leaves are fleshy, opposite, 5 to 10 cm long and 2.5 to 12.5 cm wide, with irregularly toothed margins, sessile or with small, winged petioles. Solitary flowers are 2.5-4 cm across and yellow-orange. Spreads rhizomatously, with new plants forming at nodes that root at the soil surface.

Habitat

Moist, disturbed sites.

Comments

Well suited to hot, dry conditions, but also persists in wetlands and open water. Flowers year round.

Control Methods

Manual: Mechanical: Mowing should be avoided, which can promote plant establishment. Hand pull small plants. Be sure to remove all roots and rhizomes during pulling. Sites will need to be revisited.
Chemical: Small patches can be treated with 2% glyphosate, larger populations require 5%. Triclopyr 1-2% is also effective.
Biological: NA

Control Notes

References

IFAS, Center for Aquatic and Invasive Plants. 2018. Sphagneticola trilobata. http://plants.ifas.ufl.edu/plant-directory/ Sphagneticola-trilobata/. Accessed on June 11, 2018.

Langeland, K.A., H.M. Cherry, C.M. McCormick, K.C. Burks. 2008. Identification and Biology of Non-Native Plants in Florida's Natural Areas-Second Edition. IFAS Publication SP 257. University of Florida, Gainesville.

IFAS, UF. 2015. Assessment of Non-Native Plants in Florida's Natural Areas. Sphagneticola trilobata. https://assessment.ifas.ufl.edu/assessments/Sphagneticola-trilobata/ Accessed June 11, 2018.

Invasive and Non-native Plants You Should Know Recognition Cards, by A. Richard and V. Ramey. University of Florida-IFAS Publication # SP 431. 2007

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