Oldman's Cap

Polycarpaea corymbosa was first found in the sandhills of Tampa, Florida, in 1960 by O. Lakela (1962, 1963). Although she eventually described her plants as a new species, subsequent authors have concluded that the features supposedly distinguishing it lie within the range of P. corymbosa, a widely distributed paleotropical taxon. It is now known from five counties in central Florida.

Polycarpaea corymbosa is morphologically diverse, especially in Africa. While at least five varieties have been described (four since 1975) for distinctive populations in Asia and South America, a thorough study across the range of the species is yet to be undertaken.

K. R. Beena et al. (2000) demonstrated the presence of endophytic fungi in Polycarpaea corymbosa.

This species is used medicinally.

Stems 6-18 cm, ± pilose. Leaves dimorphic; basal (sometimes absent in older specimens) with petiole 2.5-4 mm, blade oblong-ovate to suborbiculate, 8-12 mm, margins flat, glabrous; cauline subtending fascicles of usually smaller leaves, blade linear, 1-2.5 cm, margins revolute, glabrous or ciliate. Cymes dense. Pedicels 0.8-3 mm. Flowers: sepals 2.2-3.1 mm; petals marcescent, elliptic to ovate, 0.7-1 mm; stigmas nearly sessile. Capsules 1.5 mm. Seeds 0.4-0.5 mm. 2n = 36.

Herbs annual or short-lived perennial. Stems erect, 15--35 cm tall, mostly branching above middle, occasionally branched at base, white pilose. Stipules ovate-lanceolate, 2--4 mm, scarious, margin hyaline, apex acute. Leaves apparently verticillate; leaf blade linear or acicular, 1.5--2 cm × ca. 1 mm, erect or uniformly recurved from erect base, apex acute to needlelike. Bracts lanceolate, longer than pedicel, hyaline, membranous. Pedicel slender, white pilose. Sepals lanceolate, (2--)2.7--3.5 × 0.5--1 mm, membranous, hyaline, apex acuminate. Petals milky white or reddish, broadly ovate, ca. 1/2 as long as sepals, apex obtuse. Stamens usually 5, shorter than petals. Style short, 1/3--1/2 as long as ovary. Capsule brown, ovoid, ca. 1/2 as long as calyx, 5--13-seeded. Seed brown, flat, ca. 0.5 × 0.3 mm, obscurely reticulate. Fl. Jul--Aug, fr. Sep--Oct.

introduced; Fla.; South America; Asia; Africa; Australia.

Anhui, Fujian, Guangdong, Guangxi, Hainan, Hubei, Jiangxi, Taiwan, Yunnan [widespread throughout tropics and subtropics, most variable and probably originating in Africa].

Flowering summer-winter.

Sandhills, grassy areas, disturbed sites; 10m.

Mostly on open, often moist, sandy soils, less often in grassy places on mountain slopes; sea level to 1200 m.

Achyranthes corymbosa Linnaeus, Sp. Pl. 1: 205. 1753; Polycarpaea nebulosa Lakela

Achyranthes corymbosa Linnaeus, Sp. Pl. 1: 205. 1753.

Erect annual herb, usually unbranched. Leaves opposite or appearing in whorls, linear up to 35 mm long with a terminal bristle. Flowers in compact terminal heads. Sepals silvery white, turning rich brown with age; petals small, pink to orange. Fruit a minute ellipsoid capsule.