Zornia latifolia facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Zornia latifolia |
|
|---|---|
 |
|
| Scientific classification | |
| Genus: |
Zornia
|
| Species: |
latifolia
|
| Synonyms | |
|
|
Zornia latifolia is a type of flowering plant. It belongs to the legume family, which is also called Fabaceae. This plant originally comes from South America. It might also grow naturally in Central and North America. You can also find it growing in new places, like tropical western Africa. People often call this plant maconha brava.
Contents
What Zornia latifolia Looks Like
This plant is a perennial herb, meaning it lives for more than two years. It has a stem that branches out and grows flat along the ground. This stem can reach about 50 centimeters (about 20 inches) long.
Its leaves are special because they have two leaflets. Each leaflet is shaped like a wide spearhead and can be up to 4 centimeters (about 1.5 inches) long. At the bottom of each leaf is a small leaf-like part called a stipule, which can be up to a centimeter long. The plant can be smooth or have a few hairs on it.
The flowers grow in a spike, with up to 35 yellow flowers on each. Each flower is about a centimeter long. They only stay open for a short time, usually 5 to 10 hours. There are small leaf-like structures called bractlets that are longer than the flowers and can cover them. After the flowers, the plant produces a fruit. This fruit is a spiny, hairy legume pod.
Where Zornia latifolia Grows
In its natural home, Zornia latifolia grows in savanna areas. These are grasslands with scattered trees. It prefers soils that are acidic and do not have many nutrients. The plant can handle dry weather, but it does not like cold temperatures or shady spots. In Africa, it often grows as a weed in lawns and along roadsides.
This plant can get sick from different plant diseases. For example, some fungi can harm it. Sphaceloma zorniae causes a disease called scab, which makes spots on the plant. Other fungi, like Meliola species, can make the leaves stop growing or look twisted. There are also insect pests that can bother the plant. One example is the red-necked peanutworm moth.
How Zornia latifolia Is Used
Used as Animal Food
This legume plant is a good and tasty forage for livestock, like cows or goats. It is full of nutrients that help animals grow. Farmers can plant Zornia latifolia next to grasses. This is called companion planting. It grows well with grasses like Andropogon gayanus and Brachiaria decumbens.
See also
In Spanish: Zornia latifolia para niños
