Alternanthera

Taxobox
name = "Alternanthera"

---

image_width = 250px
image_caption = "Alternanthera pungens", known as khakiweed
regnum = Plantae
divisio = Magnoliophyta
classis = Magnoliopsida
ordo = Caryophyllales
familia = Amaranthaceae
subfamilia = Gomphrenoideae
genus = "Alternanthera"
genus_authority = Forssk.
subdivision_ranks = Species
subdivision =

"Alternanthera" is a genus of approximately 80 herbaceous plant species in Amaranthaceae, the amaranth family. It is a widespread genus with a cosmopolitan distribution.

Several species are aquatic plant in habit, but most are spreading stoloniferous plants, sometimes used as ground cover. The leaves are simple and verticillate. The small white or yellow flowers are arranged in chafflike bracts, growing in the leaf buds.

Alligator weed ("Alternanthera philoxeroides"), a native of South America, 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 thrips ("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 aquarium 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" Kunth
*"Alternanthera crucis" Bold.
*"Alternanthera dentata" R.E.Fr.
*"Alternanthera echinocephala" (Hook.f.) Christoph.
*"Alternanthera flavescens" Kunth
*"Alternanthera flavogrisea" Urb.
*"Alternanthera hassleriana" Chodat
*"Alternanthera littoralis" 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" Briq.
*"Alternanthera sessilis" (L.) DC.
*"Alternanthera tenella" Colla
*"Alternanthera versicolor" R.Br.

External links

* [http://www.ipni.org/index.html International Plant Names Index]