Spermatophytes (seed plants): Angiosperms (flowering plants): Eudicots: Core Eudicots: Caryophyllales
WEAKLEY'S FLORA OF THE SOUTHEASTERN US (2/10/25):
Achyranthes bidentata var. japonica
FAMILY
Amaranthaceae
Go to FSUS key
Dig deeper at SERNEC, a consortium of southeastern herbaria.
Check out EDDMapS.org to see where this has been reported.
INCLUDING
PLANTS NATIONAL DATABASE:
Achyranthes japonica var. hachijoensis
FAMILY
Amaranthaceae
INCLUDING Floristic Synthesis of North America. BONAP (Kartesz, 2021)
Achyranthes japonica var. hachijoensis
SYNONYMOUS WITH Flora of China
Achyranthes bidentata var. japonica
INCLUDING Flora of North America north of Mexico, vol. 4 (2003)
Achyranthes japonica var. hachijoensis
SYNONYMOUS WITH Manual of Vascular Plants of NE US & Adjacent Canada (Gleason & Cronquist,1991)
Achyranthes japonica
COMMON NAME:
Japanese Chaff-flower
To see larger pictures, click or hover over the thumbnails.
)
Chris Evans, Illinois Wildlife Action Plan, Bugwood.org bug_5427355
Month Unknown
Leaf blades ovate-elliptic, per Flora of North America.
)
Chris Evans, Illinois Wildlife Action Plan, Bugwood.org bug_5427361
Month Unknown
Inflorescences 2-4cm in flower, elongating to 21cm in fruit, per Flora of North America.
)
Chris Evans, Illinois Wildlife Action Plan, Bugwood.org bug_5476679
Month Unknown
)
Chris Evans, Illinois Wildlife Action Plan, Bugwood.org bug_5476686
Month Unknown
)
Chris Evans, Illinois Wildlife Action Plan, Bugwood.org bug_5476687
Month Unknown
Bracteoles spinose, per Flora of North America.
WEAKLEY'S FLORA OF THE SOUTHEASTERN US (2/10/25):
Achyranthes bidentata var. japonica
FAMILY
Amaranthaceae
INCLUDING
PLANTS NATIONAL DATABASE:
Achyranthes japonica var. hachijoensis
FAMILY
Amaranthaceae
INCLUDING
Floristic Synthesis of North America. BONAP (Kartesz, 2021)
Achyranthes japonica var. hachijoensis
SYNONYMOUS WITH
Flora of China
Achyranthes bidentata var. japonica
INCLUDING
Flora of North America north of Mexico, vol. 4
Achyranthes japonica var. hachijoensis
SYNONYMOUS WITH
Manual of Vascular Plants of NE US & Adjacent Canada (Gleason & Cronquist,1991)
Achyranthes japonica
2938
Forb
Perennial
Habitat: Bottomland forests, disturbed areas, per Weakley's Flora
Non-native: east Asia
Uncommon in GA Piedmont (rare elsewhere in GA-NC-SC)
CLICK HERE to see a map, notes, and images from Weakley's Flora of the Southeastern US.
This plant is causing problems in natural areas outside its native range, according to authorities such as:
- Alabama Invasive Plant Council, 2012
- Forest Health Assessment & Applied Sciences Team: New Invaders of the Northeast
- Forest Health Assessment & Applied Sciences Team: New Invaders of the Southeast
- Georgia Exotic Pest Plant Council, 2006
- Kentucky Exotic Pest Plant Council, 2013
- Tennessee Exotic Pest Plant Council, 2009
LEAVES:
Simple
Opposite
FLOWER:
Summer/Fall
5 sepals
Petals absent
Bisexual
FRUIT:
Summer/Fall?
Utricle
TO LEARN MORE about this plant, look it up in a good book!
- New Invaders of the Northeast and Northcentral US (Rawlins et al., 2018) p023
- New Invaders of the Southeast (Rawlins et al., 2018) p027
If a search such as "Carex leptalea var. leptalea" doesn't deliver the results you want, try "Carex leptalea".
Or, to minimize chances of a misspelling, try just "Carex le".
Less is more: If "pencil flower" doesn't deliver the results you want, try "pencil".