Acanthospermum australe (Loefl.) Kuntze

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Photo: Bart Wursten
Ndundu Lodge, Vumba

Photo: Bart Wursten
Cleveland Dam, Harare

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Synonyms:	Acanthospermum brasilum Shrank Acanthospermum xanthoides (Kunth) DC. var. obtusifolium DC. Acanthospermum xanthoides (Kunth) DC. var. acutifolium DC. Centrospermum xanthoides Kunth. Melampodium australe Loefl.
Common names:	Creeping starbur (English) Prostrate starbur (English)
Frequency:
Status:
Description:	Annual herb with prostrate branches. Fertile achenes usually (6-)8-9, fused with an enlarged inner phyllary into a fruit which is c.7 mm, oblong-fusiform, covered with numerous hooked spines; apex without 2 prominent spines.
Notes:
Derivation of specific name:	australe: southern
Habitat:
Altitude range:
Flowering time:	Feb - Apr
Worldwide distribution:	Central and South America: West Indies, Guianas, Brazil, Venezuela, Columbia, Bolivia and northern Paraguay.
Growth form(s):
Endemic status:
Red data list status:
Insects associated with this species:
Spot characters:	Display spot characters for this species
Literature:	Da Silva, M.C., Izidine, S. & Amude, A.B. (2004). A preliminary checklist of the vascular plants of Mozambique. Southern African Botanical Diversity Network Report No. 30 Sabonet, Pretoria Page 145. Mapaura, A. & Timberlake, J. (eds) (2004). A checklist of Zimbabwean vascular plants Southern African Botanical Diversity Network Report No. 33 Sabonet, Pretoria and Harare Page 23. Phiri, P.S.M. (2005). A Checklist of Zambian Vascular Plants Southern African Botanical Diversity Network Report No. 32 Page 27. Wild, H. (1955). Common Rhodesian Weeds Government of Rhodesia, Salisbury Page 60. (Includes a picture). Wild, H. (1967). The Compositae of the Flora Zambesiaca area. 1. Heliantheae. Kirkia 6(1) Pages 7 - 8. Wursten, B., Timberlake, J. & Darbyshire, I. (2017). The Chimanimani Mountains: an updated checklist. Kirkia 19(1) Page 88.

Other sources of information about Acanthospermum australe:

Our websites:

Flora of Malawi: Acanthospermum australe
Flora of Mozambique: Acanthospermum australe
Flora of Zambia: Acanthospermum australe
Flora of Zimbabwe: Acanthospermum australe

External websites:

African Plants: A Photo Guide (Senckenberg): Acanthospermum australe
African Plant Database: Acanthospermum australe
BHL (Biodiversity Heritage Library): Acanthospermum australe
EOL (Encyclopedia of Life): Acanthospermum australe
GBIF (Global Biodiversity Information Facility): Acanthospermum australe
Google: Web - Images - Scholar
iNaturalist: Acanthospermum australe
IPNI (International Plant Names Index): Acanthospermum australe
JSTOR Plant Science: Acanthospermum australe
Mansfeld World Database of Agricultural and Horticultural Crops: Acanthospermum australe
Plants of the World Online: Acanthospermum australe
Tropicos: Acanthospermum australe
Wikipedia: Acanthospermum australe