Taxonomy, Biosecurity, Invasive species, Species concepts, Snake weed
Abstract
Stachytarpheta indica has been regarded as an agricultural weed occurring throughout south-east Asia. In Australia, it is classified as a prospective invasive weed by the Northern Australia Quarantine Strategy (Brown et al. 2008). After examining several papers from the 1990’s, we conclude that there is no evidence to support S. indica being in this region at all and that the name has been historically misapplied to several other species of Stachytarpheta. A table of characters is provided for four species of Stachytarpheta showing major character differences and highlights the confusion still surrounding some of the species. Additionally, Stachytarpheta cayennensis should be added to the flora of Christmas Island, while the taxonomic status of S. urticifolia needs to be examined in further detail.
Author Biography
Gregory Thomas Chandler, Department of Agriculture, Australian Government
The University of Sydney acknowledges that its campuses and facilities sit on the ancestral lands of Aboriginal and
Torres Strait Islander peoples, who have for thousands of generations exchanged knowledge for the benefit of all.
Learn more
