Astraea lobata

(Linnaeus) Klotzsch

Arch. Naturgesch. (Berlin) 7: 194. 1841.

Common names: Lobed croton
WeedyIntroducedIllustrated
Basionym: Croton lobatus Linnaeus Sp. Pl. 2: 1005. 1753
Treatment appears in FNA Volume 12. Treatment on page 206.

Herbs, 2–10 dm. Stems erect. Leaves: stipules linear-lanceolate, 2–6 mm, sometimes split at base; petiole 2–10 cm, glands 2, papillate, lobed or digitate; blade usually deeply 3 (–5) -lobed, sometimes unlobed, central lobe elliptic to oblanceolate, 3–9 × 2–10 cm, larger than lateral ones, base truncate to rounded, apex acuminate, abaxial surface hairy, adaxial surface glabrate or hairy. Inflorescences 2–6 (–15) cm; staminate flowers 3–15 (–20), pistillate flowers 1–5 (–7). Pedicels: staminate 2–3 mm, pistillate 1–2 mm (to 3 mm in fruit). Staminate flowers: sepals usually purple-tinged, ± unequal, narrowly ovate-oblong, 1–1.3 mm, enveloping bud before anthesis, apex blunt and ± hooded; petals hyaline, oblong, 1.2–1.8 mm. Pistillate flowers: sepals oblanceolate to spatulate, 4–7 × 1–2 mm, apex acute, semiappressed-hairy; ovary usually hairy, rarely glabrous; styles 2–4.5 mm, 3-fid, each branch then 2-fid, terminal segments 18. Capsules 5–8 × 5–7 mm, sparsely hairy. Seeds 4.5–5.5 × 2.7–3.5 mm, 2.5–3 mm thick, rugulose; caruncle shortly stipitate, reniform-peltate, 0.5–0.8 × 1.2–2 mm. 2n = 18.


Phenology: Flowering Jun–Nov.
Habitat: Open areas, disturbed habitats.
Elevation: 0–50 m.

Distribution

V12 470-distribution-map.jpg

Introduced; Fla., Mexico, West Indies, Central America, South America, also in Asia (Arabian Peninsula), also in Asia (India), tropical Africa

Discussion

Astraea lobata is a weedy annual widely distributed throughout the New World tropics and subtropics. It is not clear where in this area the species is native and where it has been introduced. The records from the flora area, which are restricted to Manatee, Miami-Dade, and Pinellas counties, probably represent introductions rather than natural occurrences.

Astraea lobata is highly variable and it has been divided into numerous subspecies or distinct species. It is treated here as a single species; it is not clear if any of the subspecies warrant recognition. The Florida material agrees well with the type material of the species from Veracruz, Mexico.

Selected References

None.

Lower Taxa

None.
... more about "Astraea lobata"
hairy +  and glabrate +
semiappressed-hairy +
acute;blunt;acuminate +
Paul E. Berry +  and Benjamin W. van Ee +
(Linnaeus) Klotzsch +
truncate +  and rounded +
Croton lobatus +
unlobed;3(-5)-lobed +
0.5 cm5 mm <br />0.005 m <br /> (0.8 cm8 mm <br />0.008 m <br />) +
0.5 cm5 mm <br />0.005 m <br /> (0.7 cm7 mm <br />0.007 m <br />) +
reniform-peltate +  and stipitate +
0.05 cm0.5 mm <br />5.0e-4 m <br /> (0.08 cm0.8 mm <br />8.0e-4 m <br />) +
0.12 cm1.2 mm <br />0.0012 m <br /> (0.2 cm2 mm <br />0.002 m <br />) +
elliptic;oblanceolate +
Lobed croton +
Fla. +, Mexico +, West Indies +, Central America +, South America +, also in Asia (Arabian Peninsula) +, also in Asia (India) +  and tropical Africa +
0–50 m. +
pistillate +  and staminate +
subtending +
papillate +
Open areas, disturbed habitats. +
6 cm60 mm <br />0.06 m <br /> (15 cm150 mm <br />0.15 m <br />) +
leaf-opposed +, terminal +  and axillary +
2 cm20 mm <br />0.02 m <br /> (6 cm60 mm <br />0.06 m <br />) +
palmate +  and pinnate +
crenate +, repand +  and subentire +
extrastaminal +
glabrous;hairy +
pistillate +  and staminate +
0.1 cm1 mm <br />0.001 m <br /> (0.2 cm2 mm <br />0.002 m <br />) +
distinct +
0.12 cm1.2 mm <br />0.0012 m <br /> (0.18 cm1.8 mm <br />0.0018 m <br />) +
2 cm20 mm <br />0.02 m <br /> (10 cm100 mm <br />0.1 m <br />) +
Flowering Jun–Nov. +
Arch. Naturgesch. (Berlin) +
rugulose +
oblong-rectangular +
2.5mm;3mm +
purple-tinged +
connate +  and distinct +
? (?) +  and ? (?) +
oblanceolate +  and spatulate +
unequal +
0.1 cm1 mm <br />0.001 m <br /> (0.13 cm1.3 mm <br />0.0013 m <br />) +
0.1 cm1 mm <br />0.001 m <br /> (0.2 cm2 mm <br />0.002 m <br />) +
Weedy +, Introduced +  and Illustrated +
linear-lanceolate +
0.2 cm2 mm <br />0.002 m <br /> (0.6 cm6 mm <br />0.006 m <br />) +
0.2 cm2 mm <br />0.002 m <br /> (?) +  and 0.45 cm4.5 mm <br />0.0045 m <br /> (?) +
Astraea lobata +
species +