English: Caesarweed; Congo jute.
Names: Pulutan; Pulut pulut, pulut lembu.
Portuguese: Aguaxima.
Region: Brazil, Southeast Asia; invasive in Florida, United States.
Culture: considered a weed, invasive in eroded places, crop plantations, pastures; Denis Diderot describes a succinct critique of the popular assumption that encyclopedias should be measured according to their breadth or comprehensiveness rather than quality.
BotanyShrub or subshrub; tender; perennial; variable; erect, ascendant; up to 50 to 250 cm tall.
Stems: covered with minute, star-like hairs; tinged purple.
Each individual plant grows as a single stalk that freely sends out bushy stems. The leaf shape is palmately lobed (having lobes that spread out like fingers on a hand).
Leaves: with tiny hairs.
Flowers: pink-violet; 1 cm in width.
Fruit: hairy; sticking to clothing or fur.