Achyranthes aspera
var. velutina
Pacific Chaff-flower
Tumu ‘Enua MG
f.AMARANTHACEAE
Amaranths
Achyranthes aspera
var. velutina
Pacific Chaff-flower
Tumu ‘Enua MG
f.AMARANTHACEAE
Amaranths
Cook Islands Status Summary
Show Notes
Intl. NamesPacific Chaff‑flower EN , Devil’s Horsewhip EN
Local NamesTumu ‘EnuaMG Kōpū VaruAT,MK PiripiriMT TaumakomakoPK
Pacific NamesTamatama TON Lau Tamatama SAM
Sci. NamesAchyranthes aspera var. velutina (accepted name)
, Achyranthes aspera, Achyranthes velutina
High Tax. Eng.k.Plants, p.Flowering Plants, f.Amaranths - an herb
High Tax. Latink.PLANTAE, p.ANTHOPHYTA, c.MAGNOLIOPSIDA, sc.CARYOPHYLLIDAE, o.Caryophyllales, f.AMARANTHACEAE
Natl. PresencePresent
Sth. PresenceRR-MG++AT+++MK++MT++++AK+++PL+MN-TKP
Nth. PresenceTN-MH-RK-PK+NS-SW-
VouchersMG1990
AT1991
MT1991
AK2024
PL2024
PK1991
Local OriginNative; Resident
Global RangeNative: species w.Africa - se.Asia/Australia - Pitcairn; subsp. Micronesia - Kirbati, Samoa - Tuamotu - Pitcairn;
HabitatLand - Lowlands - Coastal, Makatea
ThreatenedNo Content
InvasivenessNo Content
BiosecurityNo Content
Medical StatusMedicine
Harmful StatusNo Content
UsesNo Content
IdentificationOur subspecies: An erect or sprawling woody herb to 2m. LEAVES opposite, wide-oval, to 40x25cm, woolly above and below, veins often purplish, apex blunt or subacute, base tapering, petiole to 2cm. FLOWERS on terminal spike to 30 cm; near the spike apmore...ex, flowers spread 5 tepals (~sepals) to expose a small flower with 5 purplish stamens; then the single bract and 5 tepals close to form the FRUIT to 7mmL, with one ovoid seed inside and on the outside there are two curved spear-like bracteoles.
Similar SpeciesAchyranthes aspera other subspecies: w.Africa - se.Asia and more...AU, differs by its annual, more gracile growth habit, smaller size, and much less pigmented, glabrescent foliage. (per NZ Plant Conservation Network). NZ has only A. velutina in the Kermadecs (Macauley Is.), where it is native.
Interest NoteNo Content
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Vernacular Names
no data available
Threatened
no data available
Biosecurity
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Species Uses
Citation Information
McCormack, Gerald (2026) Cook Islands Biodiversity & Ethnobiology Database, Version 2026.07.05 - Cook Islands Natural Heritage Trust, Rarotonga. Online at https://naturalheritage.gov.ck/cibed
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