Fertile part of fruit 1.5-2 mm long, 0.3-0.6 mm wide, in side view widest in upper part (obovoid) or widest in the middle, +/- straight, rarely conspicuously curved, the upper (apical) end narrowing, rarely suddenly cut off (truncate) (by misinterpretation), in cross-section angular (prismatic), basal scar (carpopodium) central or off to the side (oblique), beak (=thinner sterile stalk between seed and pappus) absent, wings absent, fruit surface black, smooth (except at cellular level), with glands or glandular hairs, rarely no hairs (glabrous), thickened margin absent, longitudinal ribs present, 5, their surfaces smooth, with no hairs (glabrous), wilted flower mostly absent.
Pappus type bristles / hairs, pappus elements all +/- similar, up to 3-5 mm long, in one row, number of pappus elements eleven or more, pappus position central on upper end of fruit, persistent, the individual bristles rough / serrated (barbellate), +/- equal width along length, white / translucent.
Scrambling shrub, fruits wind-dispersed. Tropical regions. Found in agricultural areas, natural and planted forests, grasslands, disturbed or settled areas, scrub/shrublands, along water courses, and in wetlands.
Panama, Colombia, Venezuela, Ecuador, Peru, Bolivia, Brazil.
Sri Lanka, Indonesia, Sumatra, Phillipines, Taiwan.
NAQS target species; NT Category C; WA Declared Pest – s12 (C1 Prohibited).
Taiwan.
Tissue culture.