Cayenne Porterweed

cayennensis: of Cayenne in French Guyana.

Shrubby perennial herb, 0.4-1.5 cm tall. Stems sometimes woody at the base, hairless or shortly pubescent, sometimes some scattered long hairs. Leaves ovate to elliptic, 2-9 cm long, often decurrent into the petiole, with rough hairs above, hairless or hairy on the veins beneath; margin crenate-dentate; petiole 1-1.5 cm long. Inflorescence in slender terminal spikes 20-45 cm long, pubescent or almost hairless. Bracts 3.5-5 mm long, narrowly triangular, usually slightly shorter than the fruiting calyx, ciliate on the margin. Calyx 4-5 mm long, tubular, ellipsoid, with 1-3 peltate glands near the apex, 4-toothed with teeth subequal. Corolla white, pale blue or pale lilac; tube 4-6 mm long, equalling the calyx or exserted up to 2 mm, slightly curved; lobes 1.5-2 mm long.

Locally common

Native of tropical America but now a more or less pantropical weed.