Blue snake weed (species: Stachytarpheta jamaicensis) in Cairns and Surrounds (Gaia Guide)
Cairns and Surrounds > Plantae > Tracheophyta > Magnoliopsida > Lamiales > Verbenaceae > Stachytarpheta > Stachytarpheta jamaicensis (gallery)
Stachytarpheta jamaicensis
Blue snake weed


©Anne: Snake Weed at Lizard Island

©Anne: Flower of Blue snake weed at Lizard Island

©Anne: Spike and flowers of Blue snake weed at Lizard Island

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Kingdom Plantae
Division Tracheophyta
Class Magnoliopsida
Order Lamiales
Family Verbenaceae
Genus Stachytarpheta
Species Stachytarpheta jamaicensis

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Colours

         

Distinguishing features

A small shrub with serrated, opposite leaves and long, thick curved terminal spikes bearing numerous small purple flowers.

Size

  • Size data has not been obtained.

Synonyms

Comments

A native of central America that has become naturalised in much of tropical Australia. It is regarded as an environmental weed in Queensland.

by Anne Hoggett

Distribution


©Atlas of Living Australia: Australian distribution

Local abundance

  • Lizard Island, Queensland, Australia: Common around the airstrip; uncommon at the Research Station (actively eradicated).

Web resources

References

  • Colvill, A., M. Ahmet, S. Clag and B. Haigh (2004). Lizard Island fauna and flora sampling report,Queensland Parks and Wildlife Service.. LIRS catalog number 10067.
  • De Sloover, J.R. and S. Liégeois (1997). Eagle Island, flora and vegetation (Queensland, Australia), Bull. Jard. Bot. Nat. Belg./ Bull. Nat. Plantentuin Belg., 66: 347-383. LIRS catalog number 526.
  • Smith, G.C. (1987). The birds of Eagle Island, a tropical sand cay on the northern Great Barrier Reef, Australia, The Sunbird, 17(1): 1-11. LIRS catalog number 245.