Justicia betonica (ACANTHACEAE) White Shrimp Plant

Sprawling herb to 2 m high, forming dense ground cover; stems rooting where they contact the ground, with dense bands of hairs at nodes, glabrous elsewhere. This clump was about 30 m upstream from the crossing to Riaweena Street from the back of The Gap State High School. It is widespread through the creek, with heavy infestations. Weed risk: extreme.

Native to tropical Asia and tropical Africa. Leaves at each node usually equal, elliptic to obovate, up to 14 cm long and 11 cm wide, margins slightly wavy, upper surface dark green, lower surface paler; petiole up to 15 mm long.

Inflorescence terminal, often on short lateral shoots, up to 13 cm long; each flower subtended by a bract and two bracteoles, each membranaceous, white, with green veins. Flowers summer, fruits autumn.