Acaena

Last updated

Acaena
Acaena novae-zelandiae1.jpg
Acaena novae-zelandiae foliage and various fruiting stages
Scientific classification Red Pencil Icon.png
Kingdom: Plantae
Clade: Tracheophytes
Clade: Angiosperms
Clade: Eudicots
Clade: Rosids
Order: Rosales
Family: Rosaceae
Subfamily: Rosoideae
Tribe: Sanguisorbeae
Subtribe: Sanguisorbinae
Genus: Acaena
Mutis ex L. [1]
Species

See text

Synonyms [1]
  • AncistrumJ.R.Forst. & G.Forst.

Acaena is a genus of about 60 species of mainly evergreen, creeping herbaceous perennial plants and subshrubs in the family Rosaceae, native mainly to the Southern Hemisphere, notably New Zealand, Australia and South America, but with a few species extending into the Northern Hemisphere, north to Hawaii ( A. exigua ) and California ( A. pinnatifida ). [2]

Contents

The leaves are alternate, 4–15 centimetres (1.6–5.9 in) long, and pinnate or nearly so, with 7–21 leaflets. The flowers are produced in a tight globose [inflorescence] 1–2 centimetres (0.39–0.79 in) in diameter, with no petals. The fruit is also a dense ball of many seeds; in many (but not all) species the seeds bear a barbed arrowhead point, the seedhead forming a burr which attaches itself to animal fur or feathers for dispersal.

Several Acaena species in New Zealand are known by the common name bidibid. The word is written variously bidi-bidi, biddy-biddy, biddi-biddi, biddi-bid and a number of other variations. These names are the English rendition of the original Māori name of piripiri. [3] The plant is also called the New Zealand burr. The species Acaena microphylla has gained the Royal Horticultural Society's Award of Garden Merit. [4]

Etymology

The generic name Acaena is derived from the Greek "akaina" (thorn), referring to the spiny hypanthium. [5]

Species

As of 2020, Plants of the World Online accepted the following species: [6]

Invasive species

Some species have been introduced accidentally to other areas, attached to sheep's wool, and have become invasive species. Acaena novae-zelandiae , one of the bidibids from New Zealand, is the most commonly encountered species in the United Kingdom, where it is often abundant on coastal sand dunes, crowding out native vegetation and creating an often painful nuisance with the barbed burrs. In California, A. pallida , A. novae-zelandiae and A. anserinifolia are considered serious weeds. [7]

Related Research Articles

<i>Solanum pseudocapsicum</i> Species of plant

Solanum pseudocapsicum is a nightshade species with mildly poisonous fruit. It is commonly known as the Jerusalem cherry, Madeira winter cherry, or, ambiguously, "winter cherry". These perennials can be grown decoratively as house plants, but in some areas of South Africa, India, Australia and New Zealand it is regarded as a weed.

<i>Azorella</i> Genus of plants

Azorella is a genus of flowering plants in the family Apiaceae, native to South America, New Zealand, southeastern Australia, and the islands of the Southern Ocean.

<i>Calceolaria</i> Genus of flowering plants

Calceolaria, also called lady's purse, slipper flower and pocketbook flower, or slipperwort, is a genus of plants in the family Calceolariaceae, sometimes classified in Scrophulariaceae by some authors. This genus consists of about 388 species of shrubs, lianas and herbs, and the geographical range extends from Patagonia to central Mexico, with its distribution centre in Andean region. Calceolaria species have usually yellow or orange flowers, which can have red or purple spots. The Calceolaria Herbeohybrida group, also called C. herbeohybrida Voss, is a group of ornamental hybrids known only in cultivation, called florists slipperwort.

Invasive species of Australian origin

There are a number of Australian species that have become invasive when introduced into outside Australia or outside Oceania.

<i>Baccharis</i> Genus of flowering plants

Baccharis is a genus of perennials and shrubs in the aster family (Asteraceae). They are commonly known as baccharises but sometimes referred to as "brooms", because many members have small thin leaves resembling the true brooms. They are not at all related to these however, but belong to an entirely different lineage of eudicots. B. halimifolia is commonly known as "groundsel bush", however true groundsels are found in the genus Senecio.

<i>Weinmannia</i> Genus of flowering plants

Weinmannia is a genus of trees and shrubs in the family Cunoniaceae. It is the largest genus of the family with about 150 species. It is also the most widespread genus, occurring in Central and South America including the Caribbean, Madagascar and surrounding islands, Malesia and the islands of the South Pacific. It is absent from mainland Africa and Australia, but some fossils have been attributed to Weinmannia in Australia. Leaves are simple or pinnate, with a margin usually toothed, and interpetiolar stipules. Flowers are bisexual, white, arranged in racemes. The fruit is a capsule opening vertically from the top to the base. Seeds hairy without wings.

<i>Acaena novae-zelandiae</i> Species of plant

Acaena novae-zelandiae, commonly known as red bidibid, bidgee widgee, buzzy and piri-piri bur, is a small herbaceous, prostrate perennial, native to New Zealand, Australia and New Guinea, of the family Rosaceae.

<i>Mutisia</i> Genus of sunflowers

Mutisia is a genus of flowering plant in the mutisia tribe within the sunflower family. Mutisia has been named after José Celestino Mutis. It comprises about sixty species which can be found along the entire length of the Andes and in southern Brazil, Paraguay, Uruguay and northern Argentina.

<i>Acaena rorida</i> Species of plant

Acaena rorida is a species of mat-forming perennial plant known only from grassy uplands on the Mangaohane Plateau in the northwestern part of the Ruahine Range in the North Island of New Zealand.

Guettardeae Tribe of flowering plants

Guettardeae is a tribe of flowering plants in the family Rubiaceae and contains about 748 species in 14 genera. Its representatives are widespread geographically and are found in the tropics and subtropics.

Some species endemic to New Zealand are causing problems in other countries, similar to the way introduced species in New Zealand cause problems for agriculture and indigenous biodiversity.

<i>Acaena caesiiglauca</i> Species of flowering plant

Acaena caesiiglauca is a species of Acaena. Aceana caesiiglauca grow to a height of 2–4 inches and a spread of about 2 ft. The flowers consist of reddish burrs and its foliage is described as a silky bluish grey.

The Flora of Fuegia, the Falkland Islands, etc. is a description of the plants discovered in these islands during the Ross expedition written by Joseph Dalton Hooker and published by Reeve Brothers in London between 1845 and 1847. Hooker sailed on HMS Erebus as assistant surgeon. It was the second in a series of four Floras in the Flora Antarctica, the others being the Flora of Lord Auckland and Campbell's Islands (1843-1845), the Flora Novae-Zelandiae (1851–53), and the Flora Tasmaniae (1853–59). They were "splendidly" illustrated by Walter Hood Fitch.

<i>Flora of Lord Auckland and Campbells Islands</i>

The Flora of Lord Auckland and Campbell's Islands is a description of the plants discovered in those islands during the Ross expedition written by Joseph Dalton Hooker and published by Reeve Brothers in London between 1843 and 1845. Hooker sailed on HMS Erebus as assistant surgeon. It was the first in a series of four Floras in the Flora Antarctica, the others being the Flora of Fuegia, the Falklands, Kerguellen's land, etc (1845–1847), the Flora Novae-Zelandiae (1851–53), and the Flora Tasmaniae (1853–59). They were "splendidly" illustrated by Walter Hood Fitch.

Coussareeae Tribe of plants

Coussareeae is a tribe of flowering plants in the family Rubiaceae and contains 407 species in 10 genera. The former tribe Coccocypseleae Bremek., consisting of Coccocypselum, Declieuxia, and Hindsia, is considered part of Coussareeae. Its representatives are found in Central and South America.

<i>Acaena microphylla</i> Species of flowering plant

Acaena microphylla, the bidibid or piripiri, and outside New Zealand, New Zealand-bur, is a small herbaceous, prostrate perennial flowering plant in the rose family Rosaceae, native to both the North and South Islands of New Zealand. There are two varieties:

References

  1. 1 2 "genus Acaena". Germplasm Resources Information Network (GRIN) online database. Retrieved 30 March 2020.
  2. RHS A-Z encyclopedia of garden plants. United Kingdom: Dorling Kindersley. 2008. p. 1136. ISBN   1405332964.
  3. Orsman, H. W. (1999). The Dictionary of New Zealand English. Auckland: Oxford University Press.
  4. RHS Plant Selector Acaena microphylla AGM / RHS Gardening
  5. Bryony Macmillan. "Rosaceae 26. Acaena". E-Flora (Flora of North America). Retrieved 2015-12-03.
  6. "Acaena". Plants of the World Online . Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew . Retrieved 30 March 2020.
  7. "Weeds Sorted by Pest Rating", CFDA.ca.gov