Stevia rebaudiana

Species category

Herb or Spice

Common name

candyleaf

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

Oblanceolate

Size

  • Length 2.5–3.2 mm 
  • Width 0.5–0.8 mm 
  • Thickness 0.5–0.8 mm 

Color

Brown with yellow ribs

Texture

Rough with strong, yellow, and longitudinal ribs

Other structures

The pappusPappus:
Modified calyx in Asteraceae, composed of hairs, bristles, awns, or scales. The pappus-like structure attached to milkweed seeds is termed a coma. 
crown is slightly wider than the 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.
body.

Identification notes

Remnants of pappusPappus:
Modified calyx in Asteraceae, composed of hairs, bristles, awns, or scales. The pappus-like structure attached to milkweed seeds is termed a coma. 
may remain attached to the 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.
.

Noxious weed seed categories

Not listed

AOSA examination list

Not included

Nomenclature

Family

Asteraceae

Valid name

Stevia rebaudiana (Bertoni) Bertoni

 Stevia rebaudiana.  Achenes with a pappus crown that is slightly wider than the achene body. 
Stevia rebaudiana. Achenes with a pappus crown that is slightly wider than the achene body.