Ammannia baccifera L. - LYTHRACEAE - Dicotyledon

Common name : acrid weed.

Botany Biology Phenology Ecology Distribution Agricultural importance Cultural control Chemical control

Botany :

Description :

Terrestrial, annual, erect herb, up to 60 cm tall. Taproot white or brown. Stem quadrangular, solid, glabrous. Stipules absent. Leaves simple, not lobed or divided, opposite, sessile, lanceolate, less than 2 cm long/wide, margin entire, apex acute or obtuse, base cordate or obtuse, one-veined. Flowers bisexual, grouped together in an axillary, sessile glomerules, red, pink, or purple, petals absent. Fruit a capsule, opening irregularly, transversely.

Biology :

Reproduction by seeds.

Phenology :

Flowering May to October, fruiting July to November.

Ecology :

In inundated or very wet sites, from 0-1200 m alt.; lowland rice fields.

Distribution :

(Sub-)tropical Asia to tropical Australia. Tropical Africa.

Agricultural importance :

May become very harmful in rice fields, especially when fields run dry due to lack of water.

Cultural control :

Mechanical, but difficult as severed parts regenerate easily.

Chemical control :

2.4-D at high rates; MCPA is less effective. Growth-regulating herbicides like oxadiazon, a mixture of propanil with oryzalin, nitralin or butachlor.

Uses :
In India, leaves are used to reduce the sexual libido in animals.

References :
-Soerjani M., Kostermans A. J. G. H., Tjitrosoepomo G. 1987. Weeds of rice in Indonesia. Balai Pustaka. Jakarta.

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