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| MaltaWildPlants.com by Stephen Mifsud |
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Achyranthes sicula (Devil's horsewhip) |
Achyranthes sicula (AMARANTHACEAE.)
Images for this profile are taken from the Maltese Islands at or after year 2000. |
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| Nomenclature and Basic Information |
Species name : |
Achyranthes sicula(L.) Allioni
Published in Mélang. Philos. Math. Soc. Roy. Turin (Misc. Taur.) 5: 93 (1774) | Synonyms :
(basionym or principal syn.) |
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Plant Family : | Amaranthaceae
Juss. (The Amaranth Family)
42 species from the Amaranthaceae family are recorded from the Maltese Islands. | English name(s) : | Devil's horsewhip, Prickly chaff flower | Maltese name(s) : | Maltese name not known | Status for Malta : | Species that was introduced in Malta after year 1492 and spreads to form established, non-invasive populations. It may become become invasive | Frequency : | Very Common Common Frequent
Scarce
Rare Very rare Extinct
| Growth form : |
Raunkiaer lifeform [info]: THEROPHYTE (annuals)
Germination [info]: Dicotyledon | Legal Protection [link]: | Not Protected by Law (LN200/2011 or LN311/2006) | Red List (1989) : | Not listed in the Red Data Book of the Maltese Islands | Flowering Time : | Feb-Jun | Colour of Flowers: | Purple or Inconspicuous | Remarks : | Found naturalised in a rocky and arid valley bed by Stephen Mifsud. Matthew Fenech observed a dense population in a yard at Floriana, possibly introduced from seed dispersal at a public garden in close vicinity. The species is native to Sicily and southwest Europe. Since only one population is found in natural habitat, the Maltese population is best considered as an introduction. However, if it is found elsewhere in similar habitat, this species can be safely assumed to be native. |
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| Species Description and Distribution |
Habitat in Europe: |
Ruderal preferring disturbed areas |
Preferred habitat in Malta: |
Horticultural escape becoming invasive if habitat is suitable, forming extensive populations. |
Botanical Description: |
Perennial, woody below, stem only slightly pubescent to nearly glabrous. Leaves opposite, ovate to ovate-oblong, densely silvery-sericeous beneath. Inflorescence long, lax, spicate. Flowers erect, becoming deflexed. Perianth-segments 4 or 5, narrowly lanceolate, becoming indurate and ribbed, pedicellate, somewhat shining, green. Bracteoles glabrous, awned. Perianth about twice as long as the bracteoles. Stamens (2-)5; filaments connate below into a tube. Teeth alternating with stamens, entire at the apex. Fruits deflexed. |
Distributional range: |
Southern part of W. Mediterranean region |
Distributional map in Europe
and the Mediterranean region (2018):
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Occurrences in Europe.
(from Flora Europaea pre year 1993): |
Spain (incl. Andorra but excl. the Balaerics), Italy (excl. Sicily and Sardignia), Sardinia, Sicily and/or Malta |
Occurrences in Europe and the Mediterranean region.
(Euro+Med Checklist, 2017) -
Country codes |
Ag Ca Eg Hs(G) Ir It Jo LS Ma Md(M) Sa Sg Si(S) Tn [aAE nAg nAz(F M S) -Gr nHs(S)] |
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