Stachytarpheta mutabilis

Stachytarpheta mutabilis
Scientific classification
Kingdom:	Plantae
(unranked):	Angiosperms
(unranked):	Eudicots
(unranked):	Asterids
Order:	Lamiales
Family:	Verbenaceae
Genus:	Stachytarpheta
Species:	S. mutabilis
Binomial name
Stachytarpheta mutabilis (Jacq.) Vahl

Stachytarpheta mutabilis is a species of flowering plant in the verbena family known by the common names changeable velvetberry,^[1] coral porterweed, pink snakeweed, red snakeweed,^[2] and pink rat tail.^[3] It is native to Mexico, the Caribbean, and South America.^[2] It can be found in many other places as an introduced species. It is cultivated as an ornamental plant.^[3]

This species is a perennial herb or subshrub generally growing 10 to 20 centimeters tall, sometimes reaching half a meter. The hairy stems have oppositely arranged leaves. The leaf blades are leathery in texture and oblong or lance-shaped. They measure up to 12 centimeters long. The inflorescence is a narrow spike up to 60 centimeters long. The flowers come in many shades of red and pink.^[3]

This species sometimes escapes cultivation and becomes established in the wild. It can be weedy, growing in disturbed habitat such as pastures and roadsides.^[3]

This plant is an introduced invasive species in Fiji, Hawaii, Queensland, and Singapore.^[3]

The flowers are attractive to a variety of insects. The butterflies Ornithoptera priamus poseidon and Papilio ulysses have been observed foraging on the plant, as has the bee Amegilla sapiens.^[4] Parts of the plant contain the iridoid glycoside ipolamiide, which inhibits insect predation on the plant.^[5]

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References