Vascular Plants of the Gila Wilderness

Presented in Association with the
Western New Mexico University Department of Natural Sciences

Phyla nodiflora (Linnaeus) Greene
(Turkey Tangle)

Family: Verbenaceae

Status: Exotic

Synonyms:
Lippia incisa (Small) Tidestrom
Lippia nodiflora (Linnaeus) Michaux var. rosea (D. Don) Munz
Phyla incisa Small
Phyla nodiflora (Linnaeus) Greene var. rosea (D.Don) Moldenke
Verbena nodiflora Linnaeus
Zappania nodiflora (Linnaeus) Lamarck var. rosea D. Don

Phyla nodiflora is an exotic spreading herb that can root from the nodes. The small short hairy leaves are dentate from the midpoint to the tip with about 4 shallow teeth. The flowers occur in dense heads that are just a few millimeters across. The flowerheads, initially globose, become more cylindrical in fruit. The fruit consists of two small nutlets found within a persistant calyx. Phyla nodiflora is found in Silver City on street corners.
Please click on an image for a larger file.



Phyla nodiflora, photo Russ Kleinman & Bill Norris, Silver City, May 24, 2009



Phyla nodiflora, 1x macro of inflorescence, photo Russ Kleinman & Bill Norris, Silver City, May 24, 2009



Phyla nodiflora, growth habit, photo Russ Kleinman & Bill Norris, Silver City, May 24, 2009



Phyla nodiflora, macro of leaf, photo Russ Kleinman, Silver City, November 17, 2009



Phyla nodiflora, macro of flowerhead after going to fruit, photo Russ Kleinman, Silver City, November 17, 2009



Phyla nodiflora, 3x macro of grooved nutlets (only two per calyx), photo Russ Kleinman, Silver City, November 17, 2009


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