AMARANTHACEAE

Achyranthes aspera

Devil's Horsewhip

Wildflowers

Local Context

Common in disturbed areas.

Identification

Growth: Upright, sprawling, or scrambling perennial herb (often woody at the base), growing 0.2–2 m tall.
Flowers: Greenish, white, or pale purple, arranged in long, slender spikes (up to 40 cm) where the individual flowers bend downwards against the stalk as they mature.
Leaves: Opposite and variable in shape (egg-shaped, rounded, or oval), 2–22 cm long, often covered in silky or velvety hairs especially underneath.
Texture: Leaves are often soft and velvety; the flower spikes are prickly due to sharp spines that readily detach and stick to fur or clothing.
Fruit: Small capsule enclosed within the persistent, spiny flower parts.

Did You Know?

This is a pan-tropical weed, which readily pops up in shady gardens and pastures. It is considered to have a negative impact on biodiversity and has been listed as a noxious weed in South Africa (prohibited plants that must be controlled).

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