Scoparia dulcis L.

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Picture: Bart Wursten
Kotu Bridge, Serrekunda, The Gambia

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Synonyms:
Common names:
Frequency:
Status:	Introduced and naturalized
Description:	Erect, much-branched, shrubby perennial herb, up to c. 60 cm tall; stems and branches angled or ribbed. Leaves usually in whorls of 3 or sometimes opposite, narrowly oblanceolate to elliptic-lanceolate, 1.2-5 cm long, hairless but densely punctate beneath; margin crenate to sometimes deeply serrate in the upper half. Flowers solitary or sometimes paired in the axils of leaf-like bracts, together forming many-flowered, raceme-like inflorescences; pedicels up to 7 mm long. Calyx 4-lobed, 1.5-2.5 mm long. Corolla 2.5-3.5 mm long, white to pale pinkish-mauve, with long white hairs in the throat. Fruit a capsule, 2-3.5 mm long, pale brown when ripe.
Type location:	Jamaica
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Habitat:	A weed of wastelands, cultivated fields and grazed grasslands.
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Worldwide distribution:	Native and widespread in Tropical and subtropical America; an introduced and naturalized weed in most of tropical Africa, Arabia and Asia.
Zambian distribution (Flora Zambesiaca):	B,S
Zambian distribution (Provinces):	W
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Endemic status:
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Spot characters:	Display spot characters for this species
Content last updated:	Saturday 28 January 2023
Literature:	Da Silva, M.C., Izidine, S. & Amude, A.B. (2004). A preliminary checklist of the vascular plants of Mozambique. Southern African Botanical Diversity Network Report No. 30 Sabonet, Pretoria Page 157. Philcox, D. (1990). Scrophulariaceae Flora Zambesiaca 8(2) Pages 77 - 78. (Includes a picture). Phiri, P.S.M. (2005). A Checklist of Zambian Vascular Plants Southern African Botanical Diversity Network Report No. 32 Page 98. Strugnell, A.M. (2006). A Checklist of the Spermatophytes of Mount Mulanje, Malawi Scripta Botanica Belgica 34 National Botanic Garden of Belgium Page 176.

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Flora of Malawi: Scoparia dulcis
Flora of Mozambique: Scoparia dulcis

External websites:

African Plants: A Photo Guide (Senckenberg): Scoparia dulcis
African Plant Database: Scoparia dulcis
BHL (Biodiversity Heritage Library): Scoparia dulcis
EOL (Encyclopedia of Life): Scoparia dulcis
GBIF (Global Biodiversity Information Facility): Scoparia dulcis
Google: Web - Images - Scholar
iNaturalist: Scoparia dulcis
IPNI (International Plant Names Index): Scoparia dulcis
JSTOR Plant Science: Scoparia dulcis
Mansfeld World Database of Agricultural and Horticultural Crops: Scoparia dulcis
Plants of the World Online: Scoparia dulcis
Tropicos: Scoparia dulcis
Wikipedia: Scoparia dulcis