Family: Amaranthaceae
Alternanthera
Citation:
Forsskål, Fl. Aegypt.-Arab. 28 (1775).
Derivation: Latin alternus, alternate; anthera, anthers; filaments without anthers often alternate with fertile stamens.
Synonymy: Not Applicable Common name: None
Description:
Annual or perennial herbs with prostrate, erect or ascending stems and opposite leaves.
Flowers small, bisexual, in short dense sessile axillary spikes; bracts and bracteoles small; perianth-segments 5, acute to acuminate, scarious and variously hardening after flowering, usually white; stamens 5, united in a short cup at the base, 2 or 3 often without anthers; anthers small, 1-celled; style very short or 0, stigma capitate.
Fruit indehiscent, obovoid, compressed; pericarp membranous; seed vertical.
Distribution:
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About 200 species in warmer parts of the world. (A. S. George in Jessop (1981) FI. Central Aust. 83-84). Joyweeds.
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Biology:
No text
Key to Species:
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1. Leaves and branches pubescent |
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2. Bracts and perianth-segments pungent-pointed |
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A. pungens 5. |
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2. Bracts and perianth-segments acute |
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A. nana 3. |
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1. Leaves glabrous or sparsely tomentose with hairs restricted to the margin and midrib; branches glabrous or with hairs restricted to nodes and/or 2 lines along the branches |
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3. Perianth-segments woolly in the lower half |
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A. angustifolia 1. |
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3. Perianth-segments glabrous |
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4. Flower spikes usually 0.5-1 cm diam.; perianth-segments 2-3 mm long, acute or shortly acuminate |
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A. denticulata 2. |
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4. Flower spikes usually 1-2 cm diam.; perianth-segments 4-5 mm long, long-acuminate |
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A. nodiflora 4. |
Author:
Not yet available
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