Gomphrena celosioides

Gomphrena celosioides ('gomphos'=club, 'celosioides'=resembling Celosia) is a herbaceous perennial flowering plant belonging to the family Amaranthaceae and a cosmopolitan pioneer plant of disturbed areas, and one of 51 species in the genus Gomphrena. This much-branched, prostrate plant is an annual or short-lived perennial, with a deep taproot and is often mat-forming. The opposite, elliptical leaves have short, hairy petioles, are pubescent and about 4 cm (1.6 in) long. The flowers are in dense terminal spikes and grow on a woolly receptacle; perianth segments are papery, 4–6 mm (0.16–0.24 in) long, shining, and whitish to pink in colour. It has 2 stigmas and 5 stamens inserted opposite the sepals and joined into a 5-toothed staminal tube. The ovary is superior, developing into a single-seeded fruit. The seed is about 1.5 mm (0.059 in) in length, lentil-shaped, brown and glossy, and is routinely distributed by ants. Originally from the Americas where it is native to Argentina, Bolivi......read more on Wikipedia.