SPECIES DESCRIPTION
ECLIPTA PROSTRATA

Family:- COMPOSITAE

Common Names:- None

Synonyms:- Click here for a full list of homotypic synonyms.

Meaning:- Eclipta (Gr) Deficient (has few receptacular scales).
                  Prostrata (L) Lying flat but not rooting, prostrate.

General description:- Much-branched annual.

Stems:-
1) 20-90 cm.strigose.

Leaves:-
1) 4-13 x 0·8-2 cm, oblong to lanceolate, remotely serrate, acute, sessile or the
    lower petiolate.

Flowers:-
1) Capitula small, hemispherical, axillary.
2) Involucral bracts c. 5 mm, campanulate.
3) Phyllaries herbaceous, exceeding the florets.
4) Receptacular, scales setaceous, ciliate at the apex.
5) Ligules c. 6 mm, white.

Fruit:-
1) Achenes oblong, laterally compressed.
2) Pappus  with minute teeth.

Click here for a glossary of terms used.

Habitat:- Estuaries, rice-fields and other wet places near the sea.

Distribution:- Probably native in tropical South America, widely naturalised in
tropical and warm-temperate regions including SW Asia. Recently reported from a
few localities in S. Greece. Remains rare across the Aegean and previously
unrecorded from Crete, until discovered by Marinos Gogolos in the area of Patsos
Gorge west Crete.

Flowering time:- Autumn and winter.

Photos by:- Marinos Gogolos