Ruellia blechum

Common Name: Browne's blechum

Family: Acanthaceae

Common Synonyms: Blechum pyramidatum

USDA Hardiness Zone: 8a - 11

Growth Habit: Herb

Origin: Mexico and northern South America

FISC Category: 2

FDACS Listed Noxious Weed: No

Introduction Date: Specimen vouchered in 1942

IFAS Assessment:

• North: CAUTION
• Central: CAUTION
• South: CAUTION

Description

Trailing annual or perennial herb less than 50 cm tall with erect flower shoots. Opposite, ovate, stalked leaves 2-7 cm long. Flowers white or purple, to 1 cm long and arranged in dense spikes that appear squarish because of floral bracts to 1.5 cm long. Fruit an ellipsoid capsule 6-7 mm long with 2 brown circular seeds.

Habitat

Disturbed sites

Comments

Vouchered in most counties north through central zone.

Control Methods

• Manual: NA
• Chemical: NA
• Biological: NA

Control Notes

No specific recommendations available, herbaceous plants can generally be treated with foliar application of glyphosate.

References

Csurhes, S. 2010. Weed risk assessment: Green shrimp plant, Blechum pyramidatum. The State of Queensland, Department of Employment, Economic Development and Innovation, Queensland.

Dave's Garden. 2013. PlantFiles: Browne's Blechum, Green Shrimp Plant, Blechum pyramidatum http://davesgarden.com/guides/pf/go/62845/. Accessed on December 2, 2013.