Swaziland's Alien Plants Database

Richardia brasiliensis Gomes

RUBIACEAE

Brazil callalily, tropical Mexican clover, tropical richardia, Mexican richardia, white eye, yerba del sapo, poaia branca, Brazil pusley

Disturbed areas, Minor problem species

Origin: South America

Growth Form: Herb

Plant Description: Prostrate to suberect herbaceous, much branched perennial with long thin taproot. Brazil Pusley is an annual or perennial from a thickened rootstock that may be deep. Its stems are up to 0.4 m long and may be found growing prostrate or ascending. The stems are freely branched, covered with somewhat stiff hairs and rarely root from lower nodes. The leaves are opposite, elliptic to ovate in shape and have a pointed to rounded tip. The leaf base is elongated and the petiole may be almost absent to 1 cm long. The leaves may be up to 6.5 cm long and 2.4 cm wide and are rough textured on both sides. The petioles of opposite leaves are connected by stipules which have become sheath-like. These sheaths have ascending hairs or bristles to about 5 mm long. The flowers are in a terminal head-like cluster, up to 15 mm in diameter, of 20 or more flowers. The flowers typically have 2 pairs of short, broad leaves underneath. The upper-most pair is usually much smaller and at right angles to the lower pair. The outer part of the flower consists typically of 6 narrow lobes, up to 3.5 mm long, which have hairy margins. The lobes are joined at the base, forming a tube up to 1.5 mm long. The petals are also united and are white in coloration. The tube is funnelform in shape and from 3-8 mm long. Each flower usually produces 3 nutlets up to 3 mm long and 2 mm wide. The outside of the nutlet has short thick hairs.

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Photo - flowers/leaves