Alternanthera denticulata (common name lesser joyweed) is a small prostrate white-flowering herb in the Amaranthaceae family.[4] It is native to all states and territories of Australia,[5] New Guinea, and the North Island of New Zealand.[3] It is also one of the food plants of the varied eggfly, Hypolimnas bolina nerina.[6]
| Alternanthera denticulata | |
|---|---|
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Scientific classification 
| |
| Kingdom: | Plantae |
| Clade: | Tracheophytes |
| Clade: | Angiosperms |
| Clade: | Eudicots |
| Order: | Caryophyllales |
| Family: | Amaranthaceae |
| Genus: | Alternanthera |
| Species: | A. denticulata
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| Binomial name | |
| Alternanthera denticulata | |
| Synonyms[3] | |
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Alternanthera denticulata var. micrantha Benth. | |
The species was first described in 1810 by Robert Brown.[1][2]
Description
editAlternanthera denticulata is a prostrate to erect perennial herb, whose stems root at the nodes. The stems are green flushed pink, and sparsely hairy to being without a covering. The nodes are tomentose (that is, covered with dense intertwined hairs). The leaves are (20-)30-80 by 6–12 mm, and a light green, yellow green or flushed pink, with both the midrib and lateral veins being pink. The leaf margins are finely toothed,[7] or entire.[5]
Habitat and flowering
editIn Western Australia, it grows on both sand and clay soils, on the banks of creeks, rivers and swamps, flowering from April to August.[4] On the North Island of New Zealand, it is found on coastal and lowland wetlands, lake margins and other damp ground, flowering from January to December.[7]
Conservation status
editIn New Zealand, it has been assessed by the Department of Conservation as "Data Poor" but "Secure Overseas".[8]
References
edit
- ^ a b "Alternanthera denticulata R.Br". Australian Plant Name Index, IBIS database. Centre for Plant Biodiversity Research, Australian Government.
- ^ a b Brown, Robert (1810), Prodromus florae Novae Hollandiae et insulae Van-Diemen, exhibens characteres plantarum quas annis 1802–1805, London: R. Taylor et socii, p. 417, doi:10.5962/BHL.TITLE.3678, Wikidata Q7247677
- ^ a b "Alternanthera denticulata R.Br. | Plants of the World Online | Kew Science". Plants of the World Online. Retrieved 1 December 2020.
- ^ a b "Alternanthera denticulata R.Br". FloraBase. Western Australian Government Department of Biodiversity, Conservation and Attractions. Retrieved 1 December 2020.
- ^ a b S.W.L. Jacobs & L.Lapinpuro (1990). "PlantNET - FloraOnline: Alternanthera denticulata". plantnet.rbgsyd.nsw.gov.au. Retrieved 1 December 2020.
- ^ "Varied Eggfly".
- ^ a b "Alternanthera denticulata". New Zealand Plant Conservation Network. Retrieved 1 December 2020.
- ^ Peter J. de Lange; Jeremy R. Rolfe; John W. Barkla; et al. (May 2018). "Conservation status of New Zealand indigenous vascular plants, 2017" (PDF). New Zealand Threat Classification Series. 22: 54. ISSN 2324-1713. OCLC 1041649797. Wikidata Q76346849.