Chickenspike
Sphenoclea zeylanica Gaertn.
Sphenoclea zeylanica, known as Chickenspike, is a flowering plant species in the Sphenocleaceae family. Native to Africa, Madagascar, tropical and subtropical Asia, and Australia, it is also widely introduced in the New World tropics. The species is commonly found in rice paddies and is considered a weed that can cause yield losses of 25 to 50%. Young leaves are edible and may be lightly boiled for consumption.
Description
Sphenoclea zeylanica, described by Gaertn. in 1788, is a species in the Sphenocleaceae family. It is native to regions including Africa, Madagascar, tropical and subtropical Asia, and Australia. The plant has been introduced to the New World tropics, where it is a common weed in rice paddies. It is known by several common names, including Chickenspike, gooseweed, and wedgewort. The species has a wide distribution across various regions, including parts of South America, the Afrotropical zone, the Oriental region, and other tropical areas. The young leaves of Sphenoclea zeylanica are edible and can be consumed after a brief boiling.
Other common names
Chickenspikegooseweed
Distribution
BR · CO · Parque Nacional Natutral de Amacayacu SFF Iguaque Vía Parque Isla de Salamanca | Parque Nacional Natural Sierra de la Macarena | Parque Nacional Natural Tinigua · Afrotropical · Oriental (Indomalaya) · Distrito Regional de Manejo Integrado (DRMI) Laguna de Sonso, municipio de Guadalajara de Buga, Valle del Cauca, Colombia · TW · MM · CU · NP · SB · BI · PK · MX · KH · UZ · Núcleo Aceites S.A. · KM · VN · Bucaramanga · SR · ID · GY · DM · MG · IR · PH · TL · GF · Amazonas, Antioquia, Atlántico, Bolívar, Cauca, Chocó, Córdoba, Cundinamarca, Guainía, Magdalena, Meta, Santander, Sucre, Valle
Synonyms
Pongatium indicumPongatium spongiosumPongatium zeylanicumRapinia herbaceaGaertnera pongatiiGaertnera pangatiReichelia palustrisSphenoclea pongatia