Alternanthera pungens Kunth  

A perennial , prostrate , mat-forming , densely villous herb becoming glabrescent with age . leaves broadly ovate to obovate , glabrous to thinly appressed-pilose , rounded at the apex or apiculate , 15-45x3-27 mm narrowing at base into short petiole . bracts and bracteoles spine-tipped . perianth- segment uniqual , the 2 outer spine-tipped each with a pair of tufis of small bristles , the 2 inner (lateral) each with apromint tuft of characteristic bristle at about the middleof the midrib . stamen 5 , all with anthers ; pesudostminodes subquadrate . ovary compressed , style short , wider than long , seeds discoid , brown , shiny