Spurred Anoda

Anoda cristata

Alternate names
Crested anoda

Weed Description
Erect annual with alternate, triangular-shaped leaves that are coarsely toothed. Spurred anoda is freely branching from the base and may reach 3 1/2 feet in height. Primarily a weed of agronomic crops found in the southern United States.

Seedlings
Stems below the cotyledons (hypocotyls) are green and covered with hairs. Seedlings generally have one round and one heart-shaped cotyledon with hairs along the margins. First true leaves are alternate, triangular-shaped, and hairy along the margins and on both leaf surfaces.

Leaves
Alternate, hairy on both surfaces, approximately 2 to 4 inches long, and triangular in outline. Leaves are coarsely toothed and have three distinct lobes. Leaf petioles often have stipules at the base.

Stems
Erect, reaching 3 1/2 feet in height, and branching, especially at the base. Stems are covered with hairs and are often ridged in the upper portions of the plant.

Flowers
Solitary flowers arise from the area between the petioles and the stem (leaf axils). Flowers are 7 to 12 mm wide with petals that are light blue to lavender in color.

Fruit
A capsule containing 10 to 20 segments each with one 2.8 to 3.2 mm long kidney-shaped brown or black seed.

Roots
A taproot.

Identifying Characteristics
Seedlings with 1 round and 1 heart-shaped cotyledon, and plants with triangular-shaped, coarsely-toothed leaves. Prickly Sida (Sida spinosa) seedlings are often confused with those of spurred anoda, however this weed has 2 heart-shaped cotyledons unlike the round and heart-shaped cotyledons of spurred anoda. Velvetleaf (Abutilon theophrasti) seedlings are also very similar to spurred anoda, however the first true leaves of spurred anoda are much more coarsely toothed than those of velvetleaf.

Office of Programs

University of Missouri

Spurred Anoda

Anoda cristata