Alternanthera pungens Kunth

Khakiweed

Herb

Perennial

Vascular

Khakiweed is an introduced perennial herb in the Amaranth family (Amaranthaceae). It is native to Central and South America. In Alabama it is known from an 1891 collection by Charles Mohr from Mobile County, and a recent rediscovery of the plant in Butler County. It occurs in lawns, on roadsides, along paths, and in other disturbed sites. Khakiweed is a prostrate perennial from a tap root, the stems occasionally rooting at the nodes. The stems are pubescent with villous (shaggy) hairs. Leaves are opposite, sessile or with short petioles, oval to ovate in outline, about as broad as long, and with entire margins. The leaves are pubescent or nearly glabrous, dark green above and light green below. The leaves may become reddish when the plant is under stress from drought or cold temperatures. Flowers are produced in sessile heads in the axils of the leaves. The tepals of the flowers are tan colored, spine tipped, and sparsely villous or glabrous. The fruit is an utricle. Khakiweed is suspected to have poisoned pigs and cattle that consumed it. Khakiweed is a serious weed in parts of Africa and Australia. It has also recently become a serious pest of Bermudagrass lawns in Arizona.--A. Diamond

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Not Native GNR (Global Rank)

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