Bangladesh J. Plant Taxon. 31(1): 181-185, 2024 (June) - Short communication © 2024 Bangladesh Association of Plant Taxonomists DOI: https://doi.org/10.3329/bjpt.v29i2.74401 PRAXELIS CLEMATIDEA (GRISEB.) R.M. KING & H. ROB. (ASTERACEAE): A NEW ALLIEN INVASIVE ANGIOSPERMIC RECORD FOR BANGLADESH MD. HEDAYET ULLAH 1 , MD. ABDUR RAHIM 2* , MAHBUBA SULTANA3, SALEH AHAMMAD KHAN 2 AND NAJMUN NAHER 1 1 Department of Botany, Life and Earth Science Group, National University, Gazipur-1704 2 Department of Botany, Jahangirnagar University, Savar, Dhaka-1342 3 Bangladesh National Herbarium, Chiriakhana Road, Mirpur-1, Dhaka-1216 Keywords: Praxelis clematidea; Angiosperm; Asteraceae; Bangladesh. The genus Praxelis, comprising 19 species, is moderately predominant in the Eupatorieae tribe. This genus originates from South America, particularly in Colombia, the Guianas, and Venezuela, southernmost Brazil, and central Argentina (Dillon and Hensold, 1993; Freire and Espinar, 2014; Abreu and Esteves, 2017; Christ and Ritter, 2019). Moreover, the genus Praxelis was introduced to Southeast China, Guinea, Hainan, Malaya, Taiwan, and Thailand (POWO, 2024). Despite the fact that species belonging to this genus are commonly viewed as ubiquitous weeds, none of its species have been reported in Bangladesh till date (Prain, 1903; Hossain, 1967, 2008; Khan, 1992; Rahman et al., 2008; Rahman, 2013; Uddin and Hassan, 2018). Currently, the authors, while investigating the flora in the regions of the Birulia and Keraniganj Upajilas of the Dhaka district, collected certain specimens that resemble Ageratum species but have a pungent aroma when crushed. After a crucial taxonomic inquiry, these specimens have been identified as Praxelis clematidea R.M. King & H. Rob. Since no previous records of this species have been documented within the current geographical region of Bangladesh (Hooker, 1879; Prain, 1903; Heinig, 1925; Khan, 1992; Hossain, 1967, 2008; Rahman and Hassan, 2017; Uddin, 2018; Rahman, 2013; Rahman and Uddin, 2018; Uddin and Hassan, 2018), it has been stated here as a new angiosperm record for Bangladesh. The specimens are deposited at the Janahgirnagar University Herbarium (JUH) and the Bangladesh National Herbarium (DACB). A comprehensive description of the species, accompanied by a photograph and illustration, is given below. Praxelis clematidea (Griseb.) R.M. King & H. Rob., Phytologia 20: 194 (1970). Chrysocoma pauciflora Vell. in Fl. Flumin.: 325 (1829); Eupatorium catarium Veldkamp in Gard. Bull. Singapore 51: 121 (1999); E. clematideum (Wall. ex DC.) Sch. Bip., Jahresber. Pollichia 22: 258 (1866).―TYPE: Argentina: Dec.1872-Jan.73, Hieronymus & Lorentz s.n. (C), E. clematideum Griseb. in Abh. Königl. Ges. Wiss. Göttingen 24: 172 (1879), nom. illeg. ―TYPE: Paraguay, 1875, Balansa, B. 936 (GOET, GOET001495, photo!), E. urticifolium var. clematideum Hieron. ex Kuntze in Revis. Gen. Pl. 3(3): 148 (1898). (Fig. 1). Bangla name: Biral Sunghi English names: Pussy Foot, Giant Bluetop, Praxelis Annual or short-lived perennial herb, 0.6–1.0 m tall. Stem erect to decumbent, usually with several branches from the base or lower part, cylindrical, eglandular, striated hirsute, rarely glabrescent, with very strong smell. Leaves opposite, petiole 0.3–2.0 cm long, hirsute; leaf blade ovate to elliptic rhomboid or filiform, 2–6 × 1–4 cm, apex acute, base attenuate or cuneate, adaxial *Corresponding author, E-mail: marahimju@yahoo.com https://powo.science.kew.org/taxon/urn:lsid:ipni.org:names:193977-1 https://powo.science.kew.org/taxon/urn:lsid:ipni.org:names:193977-1 https://powo.science.kew.org/taxon/urn:lsid:ipni.org:names:1010795-1 https://powo.science.kew.org/taxon/urn:lsid:ipni.org:names:99731-2 https://powo.science.kew.org/taxon/urn:lsid:ipni.org:names:99731-2 https://powo.science.kew.org/taxon/urn:lsid:ipni.org:names:101176-2 https://powo.science.kew.org/taxon/urn:lsid:ipni.org:names:101176-2 182 ULLAH et al. Fig. 1. Praxelis clematidea (Griseb.) R.M. King & H. Rob. (a) Habit (× 0.4 cm), (b1) Flowering branch (× 0.6 cm), (b2) Capitulum, (b3) Inner flortet, (c) Inflorescence (× 2.3 mm), (d) Open receptacle (× 7 mm), (e) Achene with pappus (× 3.75 mm), (f) L.S. of corolla of bisexual floret (× 2.5 mm), (g) Pappus (× 5 mm), (h) Stamens (× 9 mm), (i1) Inner bracts (× 2.5 mm), (i2) Outer bracts (× 2.5 mm), (j) Bisexual floret (× 4 mm), (k) Bifurcate style (× 3.4 mm). PRAXELIS CLEMATIDEA R.M.KING AND H.ROB. (ASTERACEAE) 183 surface hirsute with uniseriate simple hairs, abaxial surface densely hirsute with uniseriate simple and glandular hairs, marginally conspicuously 5–8 toothed on each side. Capitula 2–6 or more, terminal, corymbiform, discoid, 1–3 cm long, peduncles 2–10 mm, with long primary and secondary branches, pubescent; involucre usually narrowly campanulate, 4-6 mm in diameter; phyllaries up to 15–25, unequal, 3–4-seriate, imbricate, lanceolate or liner, (1.0–) 4.0–6.0 mm long, apices acuminate or acute, margins entire, ciliate, adaxially usually appressed strigose or pubescent mainly at the upper parts or apices with scattered short simple eglandular hairs at base, deciduous. Receptacles conical, epaleate, disc florets 25–57 per capitulum, carpopodium distinct, broad, highly asymmetrical, laterally inserted in the receptacle. Disc florets (4.5–) 6.0–8.0 mm long; pappus of 15–40 bristles, 2–5 mm long, scabrid, white, persistent; corolla narrowly tubular- funneliform, purplish, lilac or bluish in upper part, whitish in lower part, shortly 5-lobed, or with cylindrical throat and slightly narrower basal tube, corolla tubes 2–4 mm long, papillose on inner surface, usually glabrous outside. Stamens 2.5–5.0 mm long, attached inside the petals; anthers about 1.5 mm long, apex acute, appendages longer than wide, filaments c. 2 mm long. Ovary c. 2 mm long; style glabrous, c. 7 mm long, bifurcated, style base not swollen, branches bright lilac-blue, 2.0– 2.5 mm long, coarsely papillose, narrowly linear, more broadened in distal half, densely long papillose. Fruits achene, black, c. 2.0–4.5 mm long, 3–4-ribbed, obcompressed, sparsely setuliferous, mainly on the ribs, glabrous in between the ribs. Flowering and fruiting: All around the year, but mostly in winter. Chromosome number: 2n = 30 (Watanabe et al., 1995), n = 31 (Veldkamp, 1999). Reproduction: This species reproduces by seed and stem cuttings. Ecology: Grows in waste areas, grasslands, pastures, fallow land, roadsides, walkways, and stream banks. It also encroaches upon cultivated lands and crops. Uses: Praxelis clematidea possesses anti-inflammatory, anti-oxidant, anti-ulcer, anti-bacterial, anti-diarrhoeal, and antifungal activities (Xiao et al., 2020). Distribution: This species is native to Brazil, Bolivia, Peru, Paraguay, and Northern and Central Argentina and has been introduced into Caroline Islands., Southeast China, Chinese Taipei, Guinea, Hainan, Malaya, Queensland, the South China Sea, Taiwan, Thailand, and Florida (POWO, 2024; GBIF Secretariat, 2023). It seems to be an alien species in Bangladesh, as it is reported to have been introduced in Asia and Africa (POWO, 2024). Representative specimens examined: Dhaka: Dhaka Metropolitan Area, Raerbazar, Boddho Vumi, 30 xi 2019, M Sultana DMS-3179 (DACB 99086); Keraniganj, Kalatoli, 20 xi 2023, M Sultana and Hedayet Ullah DMS-5102 (DACB 99085); Srinagar, Taranagar, 16 xii 2023, Hedayet Ullah and M Sultana HU-437 (DACB 99087); Savar, Dairy farm, 23°52'25.9"N 90°16'49.3"E, 14 vii 2023, M.A. Rahim 3996 (JUH), Jahangirnagar University Campus, 11 v 2024, M.A. Rahim 10258 (JUH); Birulia, Bara Kakar, 23°51'38.1"N 90°20'01.7"E, 18 xi 2023, M.A. Rahim, 3994 and 3995 (JUH), Diabari, Muktarpur, 23°52'17" N and 90°14'47"E, 18 xi 2023, M.A. Rahim 3997 (JUH). Moulvibazar: Sreemangal, Satgaon, 09 iii 2024, M.A. Rahim 10257 (JUH). Note: According to the original description, Praxelis clematidea was published as a new combination of Eupatorium clematideum Griseb., with distribution in Argentina and Bilovia. Balansa, B. 936, collected in 1875 from Paraguay, is cited as the type specimen of E. clematideum Griseb. in its original description. However, E. clematideum Griseb. is an illegitimate name and a replaced synonym of P. clematidea, and E. clematideum (Wall. ex DC.) Sch. Bip. is the earlier legitimate name (Tropicos, 2024). E. catarium Veldkamp, E. clematideum Griseb., and E. urticifolium var. clematideum Hieron. ex Kuntze are cited as the homotypic synonyms of P. clematidea in POWO (2024). P. clematidea is now considered an invasive weed in different 184 ULLAH et al. countries (Intanon et al., 2020; Pagad, et al. 2015; United States Department of Agriculture, 2014; Wardini, 2023; Zhang et al., 2020). The true identity of this species might have been hidden for a decade due to its striking morphological similarities to a few common weed species of Asteraceae found in Bangladesh, such as Ageratum conyzoides and Chromolaena odorata. Praxelis clematidea is distinct from Ageratum species by its deeply toothed leaves with a pungent aroma similar to the “minty cat urine” smell when crushed, deciduous phyllaries leaving a naked receptacle, pappus of more than 15 setae, and 3–4-ribbed achenes, compared to crenate or scalloped, non-pungent leaves, persistent phyllaries, at least the basal ones, paleaceous receptacle, pappus of 5–6 scales or awns, and 5- angled or ribbed achenes of Ageratum species. It differs from Chromolaena species by its herbaceous habit, conical receptacle, 3–4-ribbed achenes, compared to the undershrub habit, flat to slightly convex receptacle, 5-ribbed achenes. In a number of publications (Intanon et al., 2020; Pagad, et al. 2015; United States Department of Agriculture, 2014; Wardini, 2023; Zhang et al., 2020), Praxelis clematidea has been classified as invasive. Field observations suggest that Praxelis clematidea grows aggressively; in most of the habitats visited during this study, its rapidly expanding population appears to be impeding the growth of other species, and within its population, the individuals of other species were not found. For these reasons, this alien species is inferred to be an alien invasive in Bangladesh. The normal growth and spread of native terrestrial plant species in Bangladesh may be threatened by the aggressive and mat-forming growth of this alien invading species. Acknowledgements The authors express their gratitude and sincere thanks to the authorities of the National University, Gazipur; the Department of Botany, Jahangirnagar University, Savar; and the Bangladesh National Herbarium, Mirpur, Dhaka, for their assistance. Special thanks to Mahmuda Akhtar, Senior Artist and Illustrator, Bangladesh National Herbarium, for drawing a part of the illustration (b1–b3) of the species. 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