Dysphania melanocarpa, commonly known as black crumbweed, is an annual herb that grows in arid and semi-arid regions of Australia.

Dysphania melanocarpa
Scientific classification Edit this classification
Kingdom: Plantae
Clade: Tracheophytes
Clade: Angiosperms
Clade: Eudicots
Order: Caryophyllales
Family: Amaranthaceae
Genus: Dysphania
Species:
D. melanocarpa
Binomial name
Dysphania melanocarpa
Synonyms

Chenopodium melanocarpum
Chenopodium carinatum var. melanocarpum

Description

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It grows as a prostrate aromatic annual, with hairy stems that branch from its base. Leaves are oval in shape, about fifteen millimetres long. Flowers occur in dense clusters located in the axils.[1]

Taxonomy

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It was first published in 1922 by John McConnell Black, as a variety of C. carinatum,[2] and promoted to species rank by him in 1934. Two forms have been published, although these are only recognised in South Australia and Western Australia; they are C. melanocarpum f. melanocarpum and C. melanocarpum f. leucocarpum.[3] In 2008, Sergei L. Mosyakin & Steven E. Clemants grouped this taxon in genus Dysphania.[4]

Distribution and habitat

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It occurs in arid and semi-arid areas of Australia, usually in well-drained soils.[1]

References

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  1. ^ a b Wilson, Paul G. (1984). "Chenopodiaceae". Flora of Australia, Volume 4: Phytolaccaceae to Chenopodiaceae. Canberra: Australian Government Publishing Service.
  2. ^ "Chenopodium carinatum var. melanocarpum J.M.Black". Australian Plant Name Index (APNI), IBIS database. Centre for Plant Biodiversity Research, Australian Government.
  3. ^ "Chenopodium melanocarpum (J.M.Black) J.M.Black". Australian Plant Name Index (APNI), IBIS database. Centre for Plant Biodiversity Research, Australian Government.
  4. ^ Sergei L. Mosyakin; Steven E. Clemants (2008). "Further Transfers of glandular-pubescent species from Chenopodium subg. Ambrosia to Dysphania (Chenopodiaceae)". Journal of the Botanical Research Institute of Texas. 1. Vol. 2. Botanical Research Institute of Texas. pp. 425–31. Retrieved 8 September 2016. Dysphania pusilla (Hook, f.) Mosyakin & Clemants, comb. nov. Basionym: Chenopodium pusillum Hook, f., Handh New Zealand Fl. 1:231. 1864.
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