Murdannia keisak Wart removing herb Introduction Forty members of the genus Murdannia occur in tropical and subtropical regions worldwide. In China, 20 species have been recorded, most of which occur south of the Yangtze River [69]. Species of Murdannia in China Scientific Name Scientific Name M. bracteata (C. B. Clarke) J. K. M. medica (Lour.) Hong Morton ex Hong M. citrina D. Fang M. nudiflora (L.) Brenan Habitat M. divergens (C. B. Clarke) Brückn. M. simplex (Vahl) Brenan M. keisak prefers wet places such M. edulis (Stokes) Faden M. spectabilis (Kurz) Faden as ditch sides, flooded paddy field margins and shaded areas along M. hookeri (C. B. Clark.) Brückn. M. spirata (L.) Brückn roadsides[110, 115, 145]. M. japonica (Thunb.) Faden M. stenothyrsa (Diels) Hand. -Mazz. M. kainantensis (Masam.) Hong M. triquetra (Wall.) Brückn. Distribution M. keisak (Hassk.) Hand. -Mazz. M. undulata Hong M. keisak distribution includes southern M. loriformis (Hassk.) Rolla Rao et Fujian, northern Jiangxi, eastern M. vaginata (L.) Brückn. Kammathy Jilin, Liaoning, and northeastern [38] [110] M. macrocarpa Hong M. yunnanensis Hong Zhejiang, also Anhui , Guizhou , Heilongjiang[223], Henan[30], Hubei[53], Hunan, Jilin[223] provinces, and long and 5-8 mm wide, acuminate Taiwan[77]. Taxonomy apex, with a ciliate base extending Order: Commelinales by a line of hairs on the leaf sheath. Suborder: Commelinineae Economic Importance A solitary flower appears in the axil M. keisak is a common weed of Family: Commelinaceae or terminally on the peduncle 1-4 cm paddy fields. Occurrence is sparse. Genus: Murdannia Royle long. The linear bract is situated in The stems and leaves can be used as Section: Pauciflorae Brückn the middle of the peduncle. Sepals are livestock forage[7]. Species: Murdannia keisak (Hassk.) narrowly oblong, 6-10 mm in length. Hand.-Mazz. The obovate petals are pink, purplish Related Species red, blue-purple, or grayish blue. M. triquetra (Wall.) Brückn., shares Description Filaments are covered with dense, Murdannia keisak is a glabrous similar habitat, appearance and long hairs. Capsules are narrowly perennial herb that has fibrous, distribution to M. keisaki, however, it ovoid, trigonous, 5-10 mm long horizontal, elongate rhizomes. The has a long ellipsoid, trigonous capsule and 2-3 mm wide, acute to nearly decumbent stems are 40 cm in length. 8-10 mm long and 2-3 mm wide, and acuminate at both ends. There are [69, 70] Internodes are 8 cm long, and have acute at both ends . 4 uniseriate, gray, slightly flattened densely, white hairs. Leaves are sessile, seeds per valve. Flowers appear spreading or slightly folded, linear- Natural Enemies of Murdannia August through September.[70]. lanceolate or linear-elliptic, 2-8 cm At least one fungal species is associated with the genus Murdannia. Fungi Phylum Family Species H. R. Ref. Basidiomycota Pucciniaceae Puccinia adhikarii Ono po [170] Invasive Plants Established in the United States that are Found in Asia and Their Associated Natural Enemies – Volume 2 — 25.