Acmella oleracea

Species category

Herb or Spice

Common name

Brazilian cress, toothache plant, Para cress

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

Oblong

Size

  • Length: 2–3 mm
  • Width: 1–1.5 mm
  • Thickness: 0.1 mm

Color

Black

Texture

White spines on margins, white hairy islands.

Other structures

ApexApical:
The distal end of the fruit or seed away from the point of attachment or attachment scar.
is indented.

Identification notes

White hairs along margins. Spines on apexApical:
The distal end of the fruit or seed away from the point of attachment or attachment scar.
near pappusPappus:
Modified calyx in Asteraceae, composed of hairs, bristles, awns, or scales. The pappus-like structure attached to milkweed seeds is termed a coma. 
margin.

Noxious weed seed categories

Not listed

AOSA examination list

Not included

Nomenclature

Family

Asteraceae

Valid name

Acmella oleracea (L.) R.K. Jansen

Synonyms

Spilanthes oleracea L.

 Acmella oleracea.  Seeds with white spines on margins.
Acmella oleracea. Seeds with white spines on margins.