全 文 ：The genus Acmella Rich. (tribe Heliantheae, Aste-
raceae) was firstly described by Richard[1] in 1807, but
it has since long been treated under the another genus
Spilanthes Jacq. by Cassini[2] in 1822, De Candolle[3]
in 1836 and Moore[4] in 1907. Lin[5] also adopted this
treatment in 1979 in the Flora Reipublicae Popularis
Sinicae. Recent studies have provided convincing
morphological and chromosomal evidence for
recognition of Acmella and Spilanthes as distinct
genera[6–7], a treatment already widely accepted, e.g.,
by Strother in Flora of North America[8] and Chen in
Flora of China[9]. Acmella comprises about 30 species
with nine infraspecific taxa mainly distri-buted in
tropical and subtropical regions around the world[6]. Six
species, including four introduced species, have been
recorded in China[9]: A. oleracea (L.) R. K. Jansen
is cultivated in south China, including Taiwan[9–10],
A. ciliata (Kunth) Cass. is naturalized in Taiwan and
Guangxi[9–10], A. uliginosa (SW.) Cass. is naturalized in
Taiwan, Yunnan and Hong Kong[9–11], and A. brachyglossa
Cass. is naturalized in Taiwan[10] and Zhejiang[12].
During a survey on alien invasive plants of China
热带亚热带植物学报　2015， 23(6)： 643 ~ 646
Journal of Tropical and Subtropical Botany
Received: 2015–01–05　　　　Accepted: 2015–04–13
This work was supported by the Special Foundation for National Basic Research of the Ministry of Science and Technology, China (2014FY120400)
and Shanghai Municipal Administration of Landscaping and City Appearance (G152432).
WANG Zhang-hua (born in 1988), male, research interests: alien invasive plant of China. E-mail: wangzh19881213@gmail.com
* Corresponding author. E-mail: majinshuang@sibs.ac.cn
中国菊科一新归化植物——白花金钮扣
王樟华, 严靖, 闫小玲, 李惠茹, 马金双*
(中国科学院上海辰山植物科学研究中心 / 上海辰山植物园， 上海 201602)
摘要： 报道了中国菊科一新归化植物 —— 白花金钮扣[Acmella radicans var. debilis (Kunth) R. K. Jansen]，并提供了该变种详细
的特征描述和彩色照片。该变种原产南美洲和西印度群岛，最近在我国安徽黟县发现一归化居群。野外调查发现，该植物在黟
县生长旺盛，成熟时种子结实量大，表现出一定的入侵性。
关键词： 白花金钮扣； 外来植物； 中国； 归化种； 新记录
doi: 10.11926/j.issn.1005–3395.2015.06.007
Acmella radicans var. debilis (Kunth) R. K. Jansen (Asteraceae), A
Newly Naturalized Plant in China
WANG Zhang-hua, YAN Jing, YAN Xiao-ling, LI Hui-ru, MA Jin-shuang*
(Shanghai Chenshan Plant Science Research Center, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shanghai Chenshan Botanical Garden, Shanghai 201602, China)
Abstract: Acmella radicans var. debilis (Kunth) R. K. Jansen, is recently found to be naturalized in Yixian, Anhui,
China which is native to South America and the West Indies. Morphological variations of this variety have
been carefully examined and habitats information have also been collected during field investigation. Detailed
description and color photographs are provided for the facility of identification. Individuals of this plant form a
large population in Yixian and produce many mature seeds, suggesting that it may be invasive to some extent.
Key words: Acmella radicans var. debilis; Alien plant; China; Naturalized species; New record
644 第23卷热带亚热带植物学报
in 2014, a population of Acmella was discovered from
Yixian, Anhui Province. The plant has white corollas
and achenes with an evident cork-like margin. The
combination of features indicates it is a new alien
species of Acmella in China. Based on a thorough
survey of l i terature and specimens, we have
determined that the species is Acmella radicans
(Jacq.) R. K. Jansen var. debilis (Kunth) R. K. Jansen.
Detailed description and photographs are provided to
facilitate its identification.
Acmella radicans var. debilis (Kunth) R. K.
Jansen, Syst. Bot. Monogr. 8: 69. 1985; V. A. Funk,
Cont. U.S. Natl. Herb. 55: 255. 2007. —— Spilanthes
debilis Kunth, Nov. Gen. Sp. Ed. Fol. 4: 165. 1820. ——
Acmella debilis (Kunth) Cass., Dict. Sci. Nat. 24:
331. 1822. —— Spilanthes tenella Kunth, Nov. Gen.
Sp. ed. fol. 4: 165. 1820. —— Spilanthes mandonii
Sch. Bip., Linnaea 34: 529. 1866. Type: Venezuela,
Orinoco River, May 1800, Bonpland s.n. [holotype
(P-HBK)] 白花金钮扣(新拟) Fig. 1.
Annual herbs. Plants 10–40 cm tall. Stems usually
erect to ascending, rarely rooting at nodes, green to
purple, glabrous to moderately pilose. Petioles 5–
12 mm long, narrowly winged; Leaf blades usually
ovate to narrowly ovate, 1–7 cm×0.7–5 cm, base
attenuate, apex acute to short acuminate, denticulate
to coarsely dentate, glabrous to sparsely pilose above
and below, margins sparsely hispid. Peduncles 4 –
7 cm long. Heads white, radiate, 4–11 mm×3–8 mm,
in groups of 2–3 axillary or terminal clusters. Ray
florets 5–7, usually shorter or only slightly exceeding
the phyllaries; corollas 2.5 mm long, white; sparsely
pilose. Disc florets 80 –160; outer series tubular,
sometimes with sterile anthers and then functionally
pistillate; corollas 1.4–2.2 mm long, white, 4–5
lobed; lobes 0.2–0.4 mm long; stamens 0.8–1.2 mm
long, style 1–1.6 mm long, the branches 0.4–0.6 mm
long; achenes brown-black; 2–2.8 mm×0.5–0.8 mm,
moderately to densely ciliate with straight-tipped
hairs, with an evident cork-like margin; pappus of
usually 2 (disc achenes) or 3 (ray achenes) subequal
bristles, 0.3–0.5 mm long. Flowering and fruiting:
July to December.
Specimens examined: China, Anhui: Yixian,
parking lot out of Xidi Cun, 29°54′10.8102′′ N,
117 °59′9.0492′′ E, alt. 215 m, 31 Aug., 2014, Yan X
L, Yan J, Wang Z H et al., RQHD00671 (CSH); out
of Xidi Cun, 4 Dec., 2014, Yan X L, Yan J, Wang
Z H et al., RQHD01543 (CSH); along Zhangshui
River, 4 Dec., 2014, Yan X L, Yan J, Wang Z H et al.,
RQHD01544 (CSH); Biyang Road, 4 Dec., 2014, Yan
X L, Yan J, Wang Z H et al., RQHD01545 (CSH).
Distribution. Acmella radicans var. debilis is
native to South America (the island of Hispaniola,
Lesser Antilles, Trinidad) and the West Indies (Colom-
bia, Venezuela, Peru, Bolivia), and recently natura-
lized in South Asia (India)[7,13] and China (Anhui).
Similar taxa. Acmella radicans has been divided
into two varieties by Jansen[7]. Acmella radicans var.
debilis can be easily distinguished from Acmella radicans
var. radicans by its short ray florets[7]. Acmella radicans
var. debilis resembles A. brachyglossa in the very short
ray florets that only slightly exceed the phyllaries,
but differs in having white corollas and achenes
with well-developed corky margins. In contrast, A.
brachyglossa has yellow corollas and achenes without
corky margins. Acmella radicans var. debilis is easily
distinguished from other Chinese Acmella taxa by its
white corollas.
In China, Acmella radicans var. debilis is currently
known only in Yixian, Anhui Province, where it was first
found to occur in a parking lot in Xidi Cun. The way
of its dispersal to the site is unknown, but intentional or
careless human introduction may be one of the plausible
alternative explanations. This variety may prefer wet
habitats, especially disturbed areas along streams,
roadsides and cultivated fields. The population grows
along a stream extended to several kilometers and
produces many mature seeds. Two population were
later found along the Zhangshui River and in the town
of Yixian, respectively. The distribution range of this
variety may continue to expand and it may reach other
places through seed dispersal by water. More attention
should be paid to the invasiveness of A. radicans var.
debilis because of its current large population size and
第6期 645
Fig. 1 Acmella radicans var. debilis. A,B: Habitat; C: Habit; D: Leaves, left: adaxial side; right: abaxial side; E: Capitula (flowering); F: Capitulum
(fruiting); G: Disc achene; H: Disc achenes (above) and ray achenes (below).
陈沂章等：王樟华等：中国菊科一新归化植物——白花金钮扣
646 第23卷热带亚热带植物学报
the ease of seed dispersal through water. Its impact
on environment and economy urgently needs to be
evaluated before it rapidly grows out of control.
References
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