Alternanthera is a
genusIn biology, a genus is a taxonomic unit used in the classification of living and fossil organisms. The term comes from Latin genus "descent, family, type, gender" , cognate with – genos, "race, stock, kin" ..In addition, genus is a taxonomic rank in the hierarchy In biology, a genus (plural:...
of approximately 80 herbaceous plant species in
AmaranthaceaeThe flowering plant family Amaranthaceae, the Amaranth family, contains about 160 genera and 2,400 species. Most of these species are herbs or subshrubs; very few are trees or climbers....
, the amaranth family. It is a widespread genus with a
cosmopolitan distributionIn biogeography, cosmopolitan distribution is a state of being found almost anywhere around the world. A cosmopolitan biological category, e.g. genus, may be called a cosmopolite.Examples of cosmopolitan species:* Humans* House dust mite...
.
Several species are
aquaticAn aquatic ecosystem is an ecosystem located in a body of water. Communities of organisms that are dependent on each other and on their environment live in aquatic ecosystems...
plant in habit, but most are spreading stoloniferous plants, sometimes used as ground cover. The
leavesIn botany, a leaf is an above-ground plant organ specialized for photosynthesis. For this purpose, a leaf is typically flat and thin. There is continued debate about whether the flatness of leaves evolved to expose the chloroplasts to more light or to increase the absorption of carbon dioxide. In...
are simple and verticillate. The small white or yellow
flowerA flower, sometimes known as a bloom or blossom, is the reproductive structure found in flowering plants . The biological function of a flower is to mediate the union of male sperm with female ovum in order to produce seeds...
s are arranged in chafflike
bractIn botany, a bract is a modified or specialized leaf, especially one associated with a reproductive structure such as a flower, inflorescence axis, or cone scale...
s, growing in the leaf buds.
Alligator weedAlternanthera philoxeroides, commonly known as Alligator weed, is an immersed aquatic plant. It originated in South America, but has spread to many parts of the world and is considered an invasive species in Australia, China, New Zealand, Thailand and the United States.Alligator weed can grow in a...
(
Alternanthera philoxeroides), a native of
South AmericaSouth America is the southern continent of the Americas, situated entirely in the Western Hemisphere and mostly in the Southern Hemisphere, with a relatively small portion in the Northern Hemisphere...
, forms dense, sprawling mats, reaching 15 m across.
Alternanthera is a
genusIn biology, a genus is a taxonomic unit used in the classification of living and fossil organisms. The term comes from Latin genus "descent, family, type, gender" , cognate with – genos, "race, stock, kin" ..In addition, genus is a taxonomic rank in the hierarchy In biology, a genus (plural:...
of approximately 80 herbaceous plant species in
AmaranthaceaeThe flowering plant family Amaranthaceae, the Amaranth family, contains about 160 genera and 2,400 species. Most of these species are herbs or subshrubs; very few are trees or climbers....
, the amaranth family. It is a widespread genus with a
cosmopolitan distributionIn biogeography, cosmopolitan distribution is a state of being found almost anywhere around the world. A cosmopolitan biological category, e.g. genus, may be called a cosmopolite.Examples of cosmopolitan species:* Humans* House dust mite...
.
Several species are
aquaticAn aquatic ecosystem is an ecosystem located in a body of water. Communities of organisms that are dependent on each other and on their environment live in aquatic ecosystems...
plant in habit, but most are spreading stoloniferous plants, sometimes used as ground cover. The
leavesIn botany, a leaf is an above-ground plant organ specialized for photosynthesis. For this purpose, a leaf is typically flat and thin. There is continued debate about whether the flatness of leaves evolved to expose the chloroplasts to more light or to increase the absorption of carbon dioxide. In...
are simple and verticillate. The small white or yellow
flowerA flower, sometimes known as a bloom or blossom, is the reproductive structure found in flowering plants . The biological function of a flower is to mediate the union of male sperm with female ovum in order to produce seeds...
s are arranged in chafflike
bractIn botany, a bract is a modified or specialized leaf, especially one associated with a reproductive structure such as a flower, inflorescence axis, or cone scale...
s, growing in the leaf buds.
Alligator weedAlternanthera philoxeroides, commonly known as Alligator weed, is an immersed aquatic plant. It originated in South America, but has spread to many parts of the world and is considered an invasive species in Australia, China, New Zealand, Thailand and the United States.Alligator weed can grow in a...
(
Alternanthera philoxeroides), a native of
South AmericaSouth America is the southern continent of the Americas, situated entirely in the Western Hemisphere and mostly in the Southern Hemisphere, with a relatively small portion in the Northern Hemisphere...
, forms dense, sprawling mats, reaching 15 m across. It is considered a noxious weed, choking ponds, lakes, streams, canals, and irrigation ditches. It is being suppressed through biological control with the alligator weed flea beetle (
Agasicles hygrophila), the
alligator weed thripsAmynothrips andersoni is a species of thrips known as alligator weed thrips. It has been used as an agent of biological pest control against the noxious aquatic plant known as alligator weed ....
(
Amynothrips andersoni), and the alligator weed stem borer (
Vogtia malloi). Mechanical and chemical controls fail.
There are only a few aquatic plants in the genus
Alternanthera suitable for
aquariumAn aquarium is a vivarium consisting of at least one transparent side in which water-dwelling plants or animals are kept. Fishkeepers use aquaria to keep fish, invertebrates, amphibians, marine mammals, turtles, and aquatic plants...
use. They are considered difficult to grow and maintain, because they are sensitive to certain parameters of light, water, and fertilizers. The species often found in aquarium settings include
A. bettzichiana,
A. reineckii,
A. reineckii var.
lilacina,
A. reineckii var.
roseafolia,
A. reineckii var.
rubra, and
A. sessilis, which is semi-aquatic.
See also
List of freshwater aquarium plant species
Selected species
- Alternanthera brasiliana (L.) Kuntze
- Alternanthera caracasana
Alternanthera caracasana is a species of flowering plant in the amaranth family known by the common names khakiweed, washerwoman and mat chaff flower. It is native to Central and South America but is well-known elsewhere as a noxious weed...
Kunth
- Alternanthera crucis Bold.
- Alternanthera dentata R.E.Fr.
- Alternanthera echinocephala (Hook.f.) Christoph.
- Alternanthera flavescens Kunth
- Alternanthera flavogrisea Urb.
- Alternanthera hassleriana Chodat
- Alternanthera helleri
Alternanthera helleri is a species of plant in the Amaranthaceae family. It is endemic to Ecuador. It is believed to be green in color anywhere from 90 to 100% of the year depending on altitude...
(B.L. Rob.) J.T. Howell
- Alternanthera littoralis
Alternanthera littoralis is an African species in the botanical family Amaranthaceae. The leaves are eaten as a vegetable.-External links:*...
P.Beauv.
- Alternanthera maritima (Mart.) A.St.-Hil.
- Alternanthera nodiflora R.Br.
- Alternanthera paronichyoides A.St.-Hil.
- Alternanthera philoxeroides (Mart.) Griseb.
- Alternanthera pungens Kunth
- Alternanthera reineckii
Alternanthera reineckii is a species of aquatic plant. Several cultivars are used in the aquarium trade.This is a small herbaceous plant, which when living in marsh conditions has two forms: emergent , and submersed...
Briq.
- Alternanthera sessilis
Alternanthera sessilis is an aquatic plant known by several common names, including sessile joyweed and dwarf copperleaf. It is used as an aquarium plant.The plant occurs around the world....
(L.) DC.
- Alternanthera sissoo
Alternanthera sissoo, known as Sissoo Spinach, Brazil Spinach, or Samba Lettuce, is a tropical vegetable. It is vigorous and spreading, but not considered invasive. Samba lettuce thrives in 50% or more shade and benefits from nitrogen.-Use as food:...
- Alternanthera tenella Colla
- Alternanthera versicolor R.Br.