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Alectra sessiliflora

Species category

Weed

Common name

hei shuo

Diagnostic characters

Planting unit

AcheneAchene:
A dry, hard, one-chambered, one-seeded indehiscent fruit, as in buckwheat (Fagopyrum) or sunflower (Helianthus). The fruit wall is not united with the seed coat.

Shape

Conical

Size

  • Length: 1.1–1.3 mm
  • Width: 0.3–0.4 mm
  • Thickness: 0.3–0.4 mm

Color

Light brown

Texture

Reticulate with ridges lightly colored and bases rough.

Other structures

Seeds barely visible and light brown.

Identification notes

Seeds are very small, 0.3 mm long and 0.25 mm wide.

Noxious weed seed categories

Federal 

Learn more about Alectra spp. on ITP's Federal Noxious Weed Disseminules tool.

AOSA examination list

Not included

Nomenclature

Family

Orobanchaceae

Valid name

Alectra sessiliflora (Vahl) Kuntze

Synonyms

Alectra sessiliflora (Vahl) Kuntze var. monticola (Engl.) Melch.
Alectra sessiliflora (Vahl) Kuntze var. senegalensis (Benth.) Hepper
Melasma sessiliflorum Hiern
Alectra melampyroides Benth.

Alectra sessiliflora.  Texture is reticulate with ridges. Photo by Julia Scher, USDA-APHIS-PPQ.
Alectra sessiliflora. Texture is reticulate with ridges. Photo by Julia Scher, USDA-APHIS-PPQ.
Alectra sessiliflora.  Conical achenes. Photo by Julia Scher, USDA-APHIS-PPQ.
Alectra sessiliflora. Conical achenes. Photo by Julia Scher, USDA-APHIS-PPQ.