Sigesbeckia orientalis

Sigesbeckia orientalis, commonly known as Indian weed[2] or common St. Paul's wort,[3] is a species of flowering plant in the family Asteraceae. It is a small, upright, sparsely branched shrub with yellow flowers and widespread in Asia, Africa and Australia.

Sigesbeckia orientalis
Scientific classification Edit this classification
Kingdom: Plantae
Clade: Tracheophytes
Clade: Angiosperms
Clade: Eudicots
Clade: Asterids
Order: Asterales
Family: Asteraceae
Genus: Sigesbeckia
Species:
S. orientalis
Binomial name
Sigesbeckia orientalis

Description

Sigesbeckia orientalis is an annual, upright herb or subshrub, about 0.4–1.5 m (1 ft 4 in – 4 ft 11 in) high, usually multi-branched with reddish coloured, hollow stems. The leaves may be triangular-shaped, lance-shaped to broadly lance-shaped, and up to 2–17 cm (0.79–6.69 in) long, 1–7 cm (0.39–2.76 in) wide, petiole up to 2 cm (0.79 in) long, underside has small, yellow glands. The upper and lower surface of the leaf blade is sparsely hairy, the margin has pointed to rounded teeth, larger teeth nearer the base, gradually narrowing, base wedge-shaped, and rough on both surfaces. The yellow or orange flowers are borne in clusters of about 15 sessile flowers per head, about 10 mm (0.39 in) in diameter, usually containing female and hermaphrodite flowers. There are about 8 ray florets, each ligule 1–2 mm (0.039–0.079 in) long, and 10-15 disc florets. The fruit is a dark brown to black cypsela, 2–3 mm (0.079–0.118 in) long, curved and ridged. Flowering and fruiting occurs all months of the year.[2][4][5]

Taxonomy and naming

Sigesbeckia orientalis was first formally described in 1753 by Carl Linnaeus and the description was published in Species Plantarum.[6][7] The specific epithet (orientalis) means "pertaining to the east".[8] The botanist, Johann Georg Siegesbeck was an outspoken critic of Linnaeus' new classification of plant sexual systems, referring to it as "lewd" and "loathsome harlotry". In revenge Linnaeus named the genus Sigesbeckia, because he considered it an insignificant weed. Linnaeus sent a packet of S. orientalis to Siegesbeck, labelled Cuculus ingratus (ungrateful cuckoo). Siegesbeck grew the seeds and realised their true identity. In 1759 the Linnaeus system offended Pope Clement XIII, who banned all Linnaeus’ publications from the Vatican, and decreed that all copies of his work be burned.[9][10]

Distribution and habitat

Sigesbeckia orientalis has a broad distribution in Africa and Asia, but has been widely naturalised outside this range.[11] There is debate whether the species is native to Australia.The National Herbarium of New South Wales accepts the species as native.[12] It is a widespread species in Australia growing on river banks and on shallow, stony locations.[12]

  • habit
    habit
  • Sigesbeckia orientalis juvenile growth, Wollongong, Australia
    Sigesbeckia orientalis juvenile growth, Wollongong, Australia

References
  1. "Sigesbeckia orientalis". Australian Plant Census. Retrieved 29 January 2021.
  2. Murray, L. "Sigesbeckia orientalis". PlantNET-NSW Flora online. Royal Botanic Garden Sydney. Retrieved 29 January 2021.
  3. USDA, NRCS (n.d.). "Sigesbeckia orientalis". The PLANTS Database (plants.usda.gov). Greensboro, North Carolina: National Plant Data Team. Retrieved 14 November 2015.
  4. Walsh, Neville. "Sigesbeckia orientalis". VICFLORA-Flora of Victoria. Royal Botanic Gardens Victoria. Retrieved 29 January 2021.
  5. Wilson, Annette, ed. (2015). Flora of Australia Vol 37 Asteraceae 1. Canberra: CSIRO. p. 583. ISBN 9781486304165.
  6. "Sigesbeckia orientalis". Australian Plant Name Index.
  7. Linnaeus, Carl (1753). Species Plantarum. Vol. 2 (2 ed.). p. 900.
  8. Sharr, Francis Aubi; George, Alex (2019). Western Australian Plant Names and Their Meanings (3rd ed.). Kardinya, WA: Four Gables Press. p. 267. ISBN 9780958034180.
  9. Downing, Alison; Atwell, Brian; Downing, Kevin. "Sigesbeckia orientalis" (PDF). Biology-Macquarie University. Department of Biological Sciences. Retrieved 8 February 2021.
  10. "Johann Georg Siegesbeck". Global Plants. JTSOR. Retrieved 8 February 2021.
  11. "Sigesbeckia orientalis". Germplasm Resources Information Network. Agricultural Research Service, United States Department of Agriculture. Retrieved November 16, 2013.
  12. "Sigesbeckia orientalis L." New South Wales Flora Online. Royal Botanic Garden, Sydney. Retrieved November 16, 2013.
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