Back
Stachytarpheta 'Red Compacta'
Family Name: | Verbenaceae |
Common Name: | Dwarf Red False Vervain, Red Compact Porterweed, Dwarf Red Porter Weed |
Name
Classifications and Characteristics
Plant Division | Angiosperms (Flowering Seed Plants) (Dicotyledon) |
---|---|
Plant Growth Form | Shrub |
Lifespan (in Singapore) | Perennial |
Mode of Nutrition | Autotrophic |
Plant Shape | Dwarf |
Maximum Height | 0.3 m to 0.6 m |
Maximum Plant Spread / Crown Width | 0.6 m |
Description and Ethnobotany
Growth Form | A woody erect shrub with long prominent spike inflorescences. |
---|---|
Foliage | Light green, opposite leaves are approximately elliptic to ovate (5 cm long, 3 - 4 cm wide). They have a dentate leaf margin with teeth of unequal size. Leaves are slightly curled inwards. |
Stems | Woody stem has tan bark with linear-shaped lenticels. |
Flowers | Bright red, salverform flowers have 5 unequal lobes and a white throat (1 cm wide). Flowers are arranged on a 15 - 25 cm long terminal spike inflorescence (an inflorescence at the stem tip which has stalkless flowers held along one main axis). Only about 3 - 6 flowers are open at a time, lasting for one day and replaced by a new set the next day. The spike inflorescence blooms in this manner for several weeks. |
Fruit | Dry, indehiscent fruit is known as a nutlet, a one-seeded small nutlike fruit. It is formed by the fragmentation of a multi-sectioned fruit into single-seeded pieces. |
Cultivation | Plant in well-drained, fertile soil enriched with compost. To prevent excessive establishment of new seedlings, remove spent flowers before they set seed. |
Etymology | The genus "Stachytarpheta" comes from the Greek words for spike ("stachys") and thick ("tarphys"). It refers to the long inflorescence found in many species of this genus, |
Landscaping Features
Landscaping | This cultivar is planted as an ornamental shrub for its bright red flowers. Although the flowers only last for about a day, new flowers are produced every day along the inflorescence spike for several weeks. A mass planting of this cultivar would create a stunning display of red colour. It is ideal for butterfly gardens as a nectar plant. |
---|---|
Desirable Plant Features | Ornamental Flowers |
Landscape Uses | Coastal, Flowerbed / Border, Container Planting |
Thematic Landscaping | Butterfly Garden |
Usage Hazard - Cons Remarks | Aggressive growth due to its large seed production. |
Fauna, Pollination and Dispersal
Fauna Pollination Dispersal Associated Fauna | Butterfly-Attracting |
---|---|
Pollination Method(s) | Biotic (Fauna) (Insects (Butterfly, Moth)) |
Seed or Spore Dispersal | Abiotic |
Plant Care and Propagation
Light Preference | Full Sun, Semi-Shade |
---|---|
Water Preference | Moderate Water |
Rootzone Tolerance | Fertile Loamy Soils, Well-Drained Soils, Saline Soils / Salt Spray, Moist Soils |
Propagation Method | Stem Cutting |
Propagation Method Remarks | Propagate by seed or softwood cuttings. To collect seeds for propagation, allow the seedhead to dry on the plant before harvesting the seeds. |
Planting Distance | 0 to 0 |
Foliar
Foliage Retention | Evergreen |
---|---|
Mature Foliage Colour(s) | Green |
Mature Foliage Texture(s) | Smooth |
Prominent Young Flush Colour(s) | Green |
Young Flush Texture(s) | Smooth |
Foliar Type | Simple / Unifoliate |
Foliar Arrangement Along Stem | Opposite |
Foliar Shape(s) | Non-Palm Foliage (Ovate, Elliptical) |
Foliar Venation | Pinnate / Net |
Foliar Margin | Dentate |
Foliar Apex - Tip | Acute |
Foliar Base | Acute, Rounded / Obtuse |
Typical Foliar Area | Notophyll ( 20.25cm2 - 45 cm2 ) |
Non - Foliar and Storage
Bark Colour(s) | tan |
---|---|
Mature Bark Texture | Lenticellate |
Stem Type & Modification | Woody |
Root Type | Underground (Tap Root) |
Floral (Angiosperm)
Flower & Plant Sexuality | Bisexual Flowers |
Flower Colour(s) | Red |
---|---|
Flower Texture(s) | Smooth |
Flower Grouping | Cluster / Inflorescence |
Flower Location | Terminal |
Flower Symmetry | Radial |
Individual Flower Shape | Salverform |
Inflorescence Type | Spike |
Flowering Period | Free-Flowering |
Flowering Opening Time | Daytime |
Flower Lifespan on Plant | 1 Day |
Fruit, Seed and Spore
Fruit Classification | Simple Fruit |
---|---|
Fruit Type | Indehiscent Dry Fruit , Nut / Nutlet |
Image Repository
Others
Master ID | 30556 |
---|---|
Species ID | 4865 |
Flora Disclaimer | The information in this website has been compiled from reliable sources, such as reference works on medicinal plants. It is not a substitute for medical advice or treatment and NParks does not purport to provide any medical advice. Readers should always consult his/her physician before using or consuming a plant for medicinal purposes. |