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Sphagneticola trilobata (L.) Pruski
| Family Name: | Asteraceae (Compositae) |
| Synonyms: | Complaya trilobata, Wedelia carnosa, Acanthospermum trilobatum, Acanthospermum trilobata, Wedelia trilobata |
| Common Name: | Yellow Creeping Daisy, Singapore Daisy, Creeping Ox-eye, Trailing Daisy, Rabbit's Paw, 地锦花, 穿地龙, 三裂蟛蜞菊 |
Name
Classifications and Characteristics
| Plant Division | Angiosperms (Flowering Seed Plants) (Dicotyledon) |
|---|---|
| Plant Growth Form | Creeper, Herbaceous Plant |
| Lifespan (in Singapore) | Perennial |
| Mode of Nutrition | Autotrophic |
| Plant Shape | Shrubby |
| Maximum Height | 0.2 m to 0.7 m |
| Maximum Plant Spread / Crown Width | 2 m |
Biogeography
| Native Distribution | Central America, South America |
|---|---|
| Native Habitat | Terrestrial (Disturbed Area / Open Ground) |
| Preferred Climate Zone | Tropical |
Description and Ethnobotany
| Growth Form | Herbaceous creeping perennial shrub, up to 70cm height, forms dense mounded mats over ground. |
|---|---|
| Foliage | Leaves glossy green, paler green below, with simple coarse white hairs, serrated margins, sometimes with a pair of lateral lobes. |
| Stems | Rounded, rooting at nodes, stolons up to 2m in length or more. |
| Flowers | Borne on solitary or branched inflorescences, ray florets yellow (8-13 per head), central disc florets yellow and tubular, flowers freely produced throughout the year in warm tropics. |
| Fruit | 3-cornered nuts, very small (3 - 5mm), with corky covering and topped by short scales, mature from green to brown, dispersed by water. Plant seldom sets fertile seed under local conditions. |
| Others - Plant Morphology | Note: Avoid using prunings to make garden compost, as live and dead plant matter contains defensive allelopathic compounds that inhibit growth and germination of other plants. Regarded as invasive in tropics due to fast growth and difficulty of eradication. Listed amongst top 100 of world's worst alien species by IUCN. Escaped from cultivation and has become naturalized in many parts of the world, forming dense infestations in disturbed sites. All plant parts contain ivalin, toxic to mammals when ingested and known to result in aborted fetuses in farm animals.Ethymology: Genus epithet 'Sphagneticola' means 'Sphagnum dweller', a possible reference to the plant being able to survive in waterlogged or flooded sites. Species epithet 'trilobata' describes the 3-lobed leaves. Popularly known as Singapore Daisy (or Singapore Weed) in Australia, although plant is native to tropical America. |
| Cultivation | Prefers full sun but also performs well in shady conditions. Very adaptable to wide range of soil types, including nutrient-poor sand, saline soils, swampy or waterlogged areas, and bare limestone. Tolerant of dry periods and periodic innudation. Fast growth may smother nearby groundcovers, so plant should be pruned back regularly. Easily propagated by stem cuttings and stolons. |
| Ethnobotanical Uses | Food (Herb and Spice) Others: Paste of mashed leaves applied to joints to relieve arthritis and rheumatic symptoms. Crushed leaves used as poultice or drunk as tea to treat colds, flu, fever and inflammation. Caution: Should not be consumed by pregnant women, due to possibilty of miscarriage. |
Landscaping Features
| Desirable Plant Features | Ornamental Foliage, Ornamental Flowers |
|---|---|
| Landscape Uses | Coastal, General, Flowerbed / Border, Container Planting |
| Thematic Landscaping | Golden Garden, Naturalistic Garden |
| Usage Hazard - Cons | Toxic Upon Ingestion, Invasive / Potentially Invasive |
| Usage Hazard - Cons Remarks | Listed by IUCN as amongst top 100 of the most invasive alien species, considered as an infestation in several parts of world. All plant parts contain ivalin, toxic to mammals, can cause aborted fetuses when ingested. Plant compounds are allelopathic and have negative impact on growth and health of nearby plants. |
| Plant & Rootzone Preference or Tolerance Remarks | Species is highly adaptable and tolerant of various soil types. |
Fauna, Pollination and Dispersal
| Fauna Pollination Dispersal Associated Fauna | Butterfly Food Plant, Bee-Attracting |
|---|---|
| Pollination Method(s) | Biotic (Fauna) (Insects (Butterfly, Moth), Insects (Bee)) |
Plant Care and Propagation
| Light Preference | Full Sun, Semi-Shade |
|---|---|
| Water Preference | Moderate Water |
| Plant Growth Rate | Fast |
| Rootzone Tolerance | Easy to Grow, Dry Soils / Drought, Fertile Loamy Soils, Well-Drained Soils, Poor Infertile Soils, Waterlogged Soils (Drains Site), Saline Soils / Salt Spray, Acidic (low pH) Soils, Alkaline high pH Soils, Shallow Media (8 -10cm), Disease / Pest Resistant |
| Maintenance Requirements | Moderate |
| Propagation Method | Seed, Stem Cutting, Stolon / Runner |
| Propagation Method Remarks | Plant may not set viable seed in some regions. |
| Planting Distance | 0 to 1 |
Foliar
| Foliage Retention | Evergreen |
|---|---|
| Mature Foliage Colour(s) | Green |
| Mature Foliage Texture(s) | Glossy / Shiny, Hairy / Hirsute, Scaly, Raised / Sunken Veins |
| Foliar Type | Simple / Unifoliate |
| Foliar Arrangement Along Stem | Opposite |
| Foliar Shape(s) | Non-Palm Foliage (Oval) |
| Foliar Venation | Pinnate / Net |
| Foliar Margin | Palmately Lobed, Serrate / Toothed |
| Foliar Apex - Tip | Acute |
| Foliar Base | Cuneate |
| Typical Foliar Area | Notophyll ( 20.25cm2 - 45 cm2 ) |
| Leaf Area Index (LAI) for Green Plot Ratio | 4.5 (Shrub & Groundcover - Dicot) |
Non - Foliar and Storage
| Stem Type & Modification | Herbaceous, Runner / Stolon |
|---|---|
| Root Type | Underground (Fibrous Root) |
Floral (Angiosperm)
| Flower & Plant Sexuality | Bisexual Flowers |
| Flower Colour(s) | Yellow / Golden |
|---|---|
| Flower Symmetry | Radial |
| Inflorescence Type | Head / Capitulum |
| Flowering Period | Free-Flowering |
| Flowering Habit | Polycarpic |
Fruit, Seed and Spore
| Mature Fruit Colour(s) | Brown |
|---|---|
| Fruit Classification | Simple Fruit |
| Fruit Type | Indehiscent Dry Fruit , Achene |
Image Repository
Others
| Master ID | 19267 |
|---|---|
| Species ID | 3350 |
| Flora Disclaimer | The information in this website has been compiled from reliable sources, such as reference works on medicinal plants. It is not a substitute for medical advice or treatment and NParks does not purport to provide any medical advice. Readers should always consult his/her physician before using or consuming a plant for medicinal purposes. |
