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Tridax procumbens
| Family Name: | Asteraceae (Compositae) |
| Common Name: | Coat Buttons, Kanching Baju, 羽芒菊 |
Name
Classifications and Characteristics
| Plant Division | Angiosperms (Flowering Seed Plants) (Dicotyledon) |
|---|---|
| Plant Growth Form | Herbaceous Plant |
| Lifespan (in Singapore) | Perennial |
| Mode of Nutrition | Autotrophic |
| Maximum Height | 0.2 m to 0.5 m |
Biogeography
| Native Distribution | Mexico |
|---|
Description and Ethnobotany
| Growth Form | Annual to perennial herbs with decumbent stems up to 0.5 m long that lie along the ground and curve upwards near the tip. |
|---|---|
| Foliage | Ovate to lanceolate leaves are deeply toothed in an irregular pattern. Opposite leaves. |
| Flowers | Compound, daisy-like flowers are composed of yellow disk florets and 4 white ray florets. The tip of the petal-like appendage of the ray florets is divided into 3-4 rounded lobes. |
| Fruit | Dry, indehiscent fruits are known as achenes. The brown, oblong fruits (2 mm long) are covered in silky hairs and have a 5-6 mm long pappus (a feathery appendage which helps the fruit to disperse by wind). |
| Associated Fauna | It provides nectar to a wide variety of butterflies, moths, wasp and stingless bees who help to pollinate it. |
| Cultivation | This species is considered a weed in many countries and is not typically cultivated. |
| Ethnobotanical Uses | Others: It can be used as rabbit fodder. |
Fauna, Pollination and Dispersal
| Fauna Pollination Dispersal Associated Fauna | Bee-Attracting Plant, Butterfly-Attracting Plant (Flower Pollen, Flower Nectar), Bird-Attracting Plant (Seeds) |
|---|---|
| Pollination Method(s) | Biotic (Fauna) (Insects (Butterfly, Moth), Insects (Bee), Insects (Ant, Beetle, Fly, Thrip, Wasp)) |
| Seed or Spore Dispersal | Abiotic |
Plant Care and Propagation
| Light Preference | Full Sun |
|---|---|
| Water Preference | Moderate Water |
Foliar
| Mature Foliage Colour(s) | Green |
|---|---|
| Foliar Type | Simple / Unifoliate |
| Foliar Attachment to Stem | Petiolate |
| Foliar Shape(s) | Non-Palm Foliage (Ovate, Lanceolate) |
| Foliar Venation | Pinnate / Net |
| Foliar Margin | Serrate / Toothed |
| Foliar Apex - Tip | Acute, Acuminate |
| Foliar Base | Cuneate |
| Leaf Area Index (LAI) for Green Plot Ratio | 4.5 (Shrub & Groundcover - Dicot) |
Floral (Angiosperm)
| Flower Colour(s) | White, Yellow / Golden |
|---|---|
| Flower Grouping | Cluster / Inflorescence |
| Flower Location | Terminal |
| Flower Symmetry | Asymmetrical |
| Inflorescence Type | Compound Head / Capitulum |
| Flowering Period | Free-Flowering |
Fruit, Seed and Spore
| Mature Fruit Colour(s) | Brown |
|---|---|
| Fruit Classification | Simple Fruit |
| Fruit Type | Indehiscent Dry Fruit , Achene |
Image Repository
Others
| Master ID | 1237 |
|---|---|
| Species ID | 2530 |
| Flora Disclaimer | The information in this website has been compiled from reliable sources, such as reference works on medicinal plants. It is not a substitute for medical advice or treatment and NParks does not purport to provide any medical advice. Readers should always consult his/her physician before using or consuming a plant for medicinal purposes. |