AMARANTHACEAE

Gomphrena celosioides

Bachelor's Button

Wildflowers

Local Context

A pantropical weed that readily pops up at disturbed areas near roads, dams and building sites.

Identification

Growth: Upright, lying down, or spreading perennial herb (often rooting at the nodes), usually growing 10–30 cm high but can reach 1.5 m.
Flowers: Silvery-white, arranged in dense, round heads (up to 7 cm long) that lengthen into cylindrical spikes as they age; the individual flowers are hidden by dry, papery bracts.
Leaves: Opposite and stalkless or short-stalked, variable in shape (narrow, spoon-shaped, or oval), 1.5–4.5 cm long.
Texture: Leaves and stems are often covered in long, silky white hairs (especially underneath); the flower heads feel dry and chaffy.
Fruit: Small, compressed egg-shaped seed that is brown and shiny.

Did You Know?

Its seeds are distributed by ants, which helps the plant spread efficiently across various terrains.