Stachytarpheta mutabilis is a species of flowering plant in the verbena family known by the common names changeable velvetberry,[2] coral porterweed, pink snakeweed, red snakeweed,[3] and pink rat tail.[4] It is native to Mexico, the Caribbean, and South America.[3] It can be found in many other places as an introduced species. It is cultivated as an ornamental plant.[4]
| Stachytarpheta mutabilis | |
|---|---|
| |
Scientific classification 
| |
| Kingdom: | Plantae |
| Clade: | Tracheophytes |
| Clade: | Angiosperms |
| Clade: | Eudicots |
| Clade: | Asterids |
| Order: | Lamiales |
| Family: | Verbenaceae |
| Genus: | Stachytarpheta |
| Species: | S. mutabilis
|
| Binomial name | |
| Stachytarpheta mutabilis | |
| Synonyms[1] | |
| |
Description
editThis species is a perennial herb or subshrub generally growing 10 to 20 centimeters tall, sometimes reaching half a meter. The hairy stems have oppositely arranged leaves. The leaf blades are leathery in texture and oblong or lance-shaped. They measure up to 12 centimeters long. The inflorescence is a narrow spike up to 60 centimeters long. The flowers come in many shades of red and pink,[4] or violet (Stachytarpheta mutabilis var. violacea).
This species sometimes escapes cultivation and becomes established in the wild. It can be weedy, growing in disturbed habitat such as pastures and roadsides.[4]
This plant is an introduced invasive species in Fiji, Hawaii, Queensland, and Singapore.[4]
The flowers are attractive to a variety of insects. The butterflies Ornithoptera priamus poseidon and Papilio ulysses have been observed foraging on the plant, as has the bee Amegilla sapiens.[5] Parts of the plant contain the iridoid glycoside ipolamiide, which inhibits insect predation on the plant.[6]
References
edit
- ^ "The Plant List: A Working List of All Plant Species". Retrieved 25 September 2015.
- ^ Stachytarpheta mutabilis. USDA Plants Profile.
- ^ a b "Stachytarpheta mutabilis". Germplasm Resources Information Network. Agricultural Research Service, United States Department of Agriculture. Retrieved 25 January 2018.
- ^ a b c d e Stachytarpheta mutabilis. Pacific Island Ecosystems at Risk.
- ^ Stone, G. N., et al. (1988). Thermal effects on activity patterns and behavioural switching in a concourse of foragers on Stachytarpheta mutabilis (Verbenaceae) in Papua New Guinea. Oecologia 77(1) 56-63.
- ^ Bernays, E. and C. De Luca. (1981). Insect antifeedant properties of an iridoid glycoside: ipolamiide. Cellular and Molecular Life Sciences 37(12) 1289-90.