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Alternanthera
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{{Short description|Genus of flowering plants}} {{Automatic taxobox |image = Starr 030523-0122 Alternanthera pungens.jpg |image_caption = ''[[Alternanthera caracasana]]'' (khakiweed) |image2 = KALIKO-Alternanthera bettzickiana (14).jpg |image2_caption = ''[[Alternanthera bettzickiana]]'' (calicoplant) |taxon = Alternanthera |authority = [[Peter Forsskål|Forssk.]] (1775) |subdivision_ranks = Species |subdivision = 80-200, see text |synonyms = *''Adoceton'' {{small|Raf. (1817)}} *''Adoketon'' {{small|Raf. (1817)}} *''Allaganthera'' {{small|Mart. (1814)}} *''Amarantesia'' {{small|Regel (1869)}} *''Brandesia'' {{small|Mart. (1826)}} *''Bucholzia'' {{small|Mart. (1826)}} *''Everion'' {{small|Raf. (1838)}} *''Jeilium'' {{small|Regel (1869)}} *''Mogiphanes'' {{small|Mart. (1826)}} *''Pityranthus'' {{small|Mart. (1817)}} *''Steiremis'' {{small|Raf. (1837)}} *''Telanthera'' {{small|R.Br. (1818)}} |synonyms_ref = <ref name = powo>[https://powo.science.kew.org/taxon/urn:lsid:ipni.org:names:327196-2 ''Alternanthera'' Forssk.] ''[[Plants of the World Online]]''. Retrieved 3 April 2024.</ref> }} '''''Alternanthera''''' is a [[genus]] of flowering plants in the family [[Amaranthaceae]]. It is a widespread genus with most species occurring in the [[tropics|tropical]] Americas,<ref name=san>Sánchez-Del Pino, I., et al. (2012). [http://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1111/j.1095-8339.2012.01248.x/abstract?deniedAccessCustomisedMessage=&userIsAuthenticated=false Molecular phylogenetics of ''Alternanthera'' (Gomphrenoideae, Amaranthaceae): resolving a complex taxonomic history caused by different interpretations of morphological characters in a lineage with C<sub>4</sub> and C<sub>3</sub>–C<sub>4</sub> intermediate species.] ''Botanical Journal of the Linnean Society'' 169(3), 493-517.</ref><ref name=fna>[http://www.efloras.org/florataxon.aspx?flora_id=1&taxon_id=101216 ''Alternanthera''.] Flora of North America.</ref> and others in Asia, Africa, and Australia.<ref name=fna/> Plants of the genus may be known generally as '''joyweeds''', or '''Joseph's coat'''.<ref name=itis>[https://www.itis.gov/servlet/SingleRpt/SingleRpt?search_topic=TSN&search_value=20763 ''Alternanthera''.] Integrated Taxonomic Information System (ITIS).</ref> Several species are notorious [[noxious weed]]s.<ref name=tan>Tanveer, A., et al. (2013). [http://www.wssp.org.pk/5-19-1-53-58.pdf A review on genus ''Alternanthera'' weeds implications.] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131023131007/http://www.wssp.org.pk/5-19-1-53-58.pdf |date=2013-10-23 }} ''Pak. J. Weed Sci. Res'' 19(1), 53-58.</ref> ==Description== These are annual or perennial herbs or [[subshrub]]s. While some of the better-known species are [[aquatic plant]]s, most are terrestrial.<ref name=tan/> They take many forms, from prostrate to erect to floating. The leaves are oppositely arranged. The [[inflorescence]] is a spike or a rounded head occurring in the leaf axils or the ends of branches. The flowers have 5 [[tepal]]s. There are 3 to 5 [[stamen]]s which are fused into a rim at the bases, and 5 pseudostaminodes, appendages between the stamens that are not true [[staminode]]s. The fruit is a [[Achene|utricle]] containing one seed.<ref name=fna/> The genus ''Alternanthera'' contains both [[terrestrial plant|terrestrial]] and [[aquatic plant|aquatic]] species. The [[photosynthesis|photosynthetic]] pathway varies in this genus: Some species undergo [[C3 carbon fixation|C<sub>3</sub> carbon fixation]], one clade of 17 species has acquired the [[C4 carbon fixation|C<sub>4</sub> pathway]], and yet other species have an intermediate C<sub>3</sub>-C<sub>4</sub> pathway.<ref name="SageSage2007">{{cite journal |last1=Sage |first1=R.F. |last2=Sage |first2=T.L. |last3=Pearcy |first3=R.W. |last4=Borsch |first4=T. |title=The taxonomic distribution of {{C4}} photosynthesis in Amaranthaceae sensu stricto|journal=American Journal of Botany |volume=94 |issue=12 |year=2007 |pages=1992–2003 |issn=0002-9122 |doi=10.3732/ajb.94.12.1992|pmid=21636394 }} {{open access}}</ref><ref name=san/><ref name=chin>Chinthapalli, B., et al. (2001). [https://link.springer.com/article/10.1023/A:1010981807667#page-1 Phospho''enol''pyruvate carboxylase purified from leaves of C<sub>3</sub>, C<sub>4</sub>, and C<sub>3</sub>-C<sub>4</sub> intermediate species of ''Alternanthera'': Properties at limiting and saturating bicarbonate.] ''Photosynthetica'' 38(3), 415-19.</ref> ==Species== [[File:Alternanthera Party time.jpg|thumb|right|250px|''Alternanthera'' 'Party Time']] [[Image:Alternanthera sessilis W2 IMG 3422.jpg|thumb|right|250px|''[[Alternanthera sessilis]]'']] [[File:Alternanthera polygonoides2.jpg|thumb|right|250px|''[[Alternanthera polygonoides]]'']] It is not yet clear how many species belong in the genus. Estimates range between 80 and 200.<ref name=san/><ref name=fna/><ref name=tan/><ref name=itis/><ref>[http://www.ars-grin.gov/cgi-bin/npgs/html/splist.pl?463 GRIN Species Records of ''Alternanthera''.] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150924115157/http://www.ars-grin.gov/cgi-bin/npgs/html/splist.pl?463 |date=2015-09-24 }} Germplasm Resources Information Network (GRIN).</ref> ''[[Plants of the World Online]]'' accepts 106 species.<ref name = powo/> As of April 2024, Plants of the World Online accepts the following species:<ref name = powo/> {{div col|colwidth=20em}} *''[[Alternanthera albida]]'' <small>(Moq.) Griseb.</small> *''[[Alternanthera albosquarrosa]]'' <small>Suess.</small> *''[[Alternanthera albotomentosa]]'' <small>Suess.</small> *''[[Alternanthera altacruzensis]]'' <small>Suess.</small> *''[[Alternanthera angustifolia]]'' <small>R.Br.</small> – narrow-leaf joyweed *''[[Alternanthera aquatica]]'' <small>(D.Parodi) Chodat</small> – Hassler's alternanthera *''[[Alternanthera arequipensis]]'' <small>Suess.</small> *''[[Alternanthera areschougii]]'' {{small|R.E.Fr.}} *''[[Alternanthera axillaris]]'' {{small|(Willd.) DC.}} *''[[Alternanthera bahiensis]]'' {{small|Pedersen}} *''[[Alternanthera bettzickiana]]'' {{small|(Regel) G.Nicholson}} – calico-plant *''[[Alternanthera brasiliana]]'' <small>(L.) Kuntze</small> – Brazilian joyweed, ruby leaf ** [[Alternanthera brasiliana var. villosa|''Alternanthera brasiliana'' var. ''villosa'']] {{small| (Moq.) Kuntze}} (synonym ''Alternanthera dentata'' {{small|Stuchlík ex R.E.Fr.}}) – little ruby *''[[Alternanthera calcicola]]'' {{small|Standl.}} *''[[Alternanthera cana]]'' {{small|Suess.}} *''[[Alternanthera canescens]]'' {{small|Kunth}} *''[[Alternanthera caracasana]]'' <small>Kunth</small> – mat chaff-flower, washerwoman *''[[Alternanthera cinerella]]'' {{small|Suess.}} *''[[Alternanthera collina]]'' {{small|Pedersen}} *''[[Alternanthera congesta]]'' {{small|Suess. & O.Stützer}} *''[[Alternanthera cordobensis]]'' {{small|(Standl.) Standl.}} *''[[Alternanthera corymbiformis]]'' {{small|Eliasson}} *''[[Alternanthera costaricensis]]'' {{small|Kuntze}} *''[[Alternanthera crassifolia]]'' {{small|(Standl.) Alain}} *''[[Alternanthera decurrens]]'' {{small|J.C.Siqueira}} *''[[Alternanthera dendrotricha]]'' {{small|C.C.Towns.}} *''[[Alternanthera denticulata]]'' {{small|R.Br.}} – lesser joyweed *''[[Alternanthera dominii]]'' {{small|Schinz}} *''[[Alternanthera ebracteolata]]'' {{small|Sindhu Arya & V.S.A.Kumar}} *''[[Alternanthera echinocephala]]'' <small>(Hook.f.) Christoph.</small> – spiny-headed chaff flower,<ref name=McMu99>{{cite book |last=McMullen |first=Conley K. |date=1999 |title=Flowering Plants of the Galápagos |location=Ithaca, New York |publisher=Cornell University Press |isbn=978-0-8014-8621-0 }}, p. 144</ref> sea-urchin joyweed *''[[Alternanthera fasciculata]]'' {{small|Suess.}} *''[[Alternanthera fastigiata]]'' {{small|Suess.}} *''[[Alternanthera ficoidea]]'' {{small|(L.) P.Beauv.}} – parrot leaf *''[[Alternanthera filifolia]]'' <small>(Hook.f.) J.T.Howell</small> *''[[Alternanthera flava]]'' {{small|(L.) Mears}} *''[[Alternanthera flavescens]]'' {{small|Kunth}} – yellow joyweed *''[[Alternanthera flavicoma]]'' {{small|(Andersson) J.T.Howell}} *''[[Alternanthera flavida]]'' {{small|Suess.}} *''[[Alternanthera flosculosa]]'' {{small|J.T.Howell}} *''[[Alternanthera galapagensis]]'' {{small|(A.Stewart) J.T.Howell}} *''[[Alternanthera geniculata]]'' {{small|Urb.}} *''[[Alternanthera glaziovii]]'' {{small|R.E.Fr.}} *''[[Alternanthera grandis]]'' {{small|Eliasson}} *''[[Alternanthera halimifolia]]'' {{small|(Lam.) Standl. ex Pittier}} – West Indian joyweed *''[[Alternanthera helleri]]'' <small>(B.L.Rob.) J.T.Howell</small> *''[[Alternanthera herniarioides]]'' {{small|Beurl.}} *''[[Alternanthera hirtula]]'' {{small|(Mart.) R.E.Fr.}} *''[[Alternanthera inaccessa]]'' {{small|Pedersen}} *''[[Alternanthera indica]]'' {{small|Sindhu Arya, V.S.A.Kumar, Sánch.Pino & Iamonico}} *''[[Alternanthera ingramiana]]'' {{small|(Standl.) Schinz}} *''[[Alternanthera jacquinii]]'' {{small|(Schrad.) Alain}} *''[[Alternanthera januarensis]]'' {{small|J.C.Siqueira}} *''[[Alternanthera kanhae]]'' {{small|Vanzara, Katara & Nagar}} *''[[Alternanthera kurtzii]]'' {{small|Schinz ex Pedersen}} *''[[Alternanthera laguroides]]'' {{small|(Standl.) Standl.}} *''[[Alternanthera lanceolata]]'' {{small|(Benth.) Schinz}} *''[[Alternanthera laxa]]'' {{small|Suess.}} *''[[Alternanthera littoralis]]'' <small>P.Beauv.</small> – seaside joyweed *''[[Alternanthera lupulina]]'' {{small|Kunth}} *''[[Alternanthera macbridei]]'' {{small|Standl.}} *''[[Alternanthera martii]]'' {{small|(Moq.) R.E.Fr.}} *''[[Alternanthera micrantha]]'' {{small|R.E.Fr.}} *''[[Alternanthera microphylla]]'' {{small|R.E.Fr.}} *''[[Alternanthera minutiflora]]'' {{small|(Seub.) Suess.}} *''[[Alternanthera mollendoana]]'' {{small|Suess.}} *''[[Alternanthera multicaulis]]'' {{small|(Mart.) Kuntze}} *''[[Alternanthera nahui]]'' {{small|Heenan & de Lange}} *''[[Alternanthera nesiotes]]'' {{small|I.M.Johnst.}} *''[[Alternanthera nodiflora]]'' {{small|R.Br.}} – common joyweed *''[[Alternanthera obovata]]'' {{small|(M.Martens & Galeotti) Millsp.}} *''[[Alternanthera olivacea]]'' {{small|(Urb.) Urb.}} *''[[Alternanthera panamensis]]'' {{small|(Standl.) Standl.}} *''[[Alternanthera paronichyoides]]'' <small>A.St.-Hil.</small> – smooth joyweed *''[[Alternanthera pennelliana]]'' {{small|Mears ex Pedersen}} *''[[Alternanthera peruviana]]'' {{small|(Moq.) Suess.}} *''[[Alternanthera philippo-coburgii]]'' {{small|(Zahlbr. ex Wawra) Suess.}} *''[[Alternanthera philoxeroides]]'' <small>(Mart.) Griseb.</small> – alligator weed *''[[Alternanthera porrigens]]'' {{small|(Jacq.) Kuntze}} *''[[Alternanthera praelonga]]'' {{small|A.St.-Hil.}} *''[[Alternanthera puberula]]'' {{small|(Mart.) D.Dietr.}} *''[[Alternanthera pubiflora]]'' {{small|(Benth.) Kuntze}} *''[[Alternanthera pulchella]]'' {{small|Kunth}} *''[[Alternanthera pulverulenta]]'' {{small|Moq.}} *''[[Alternanthera pumila]]'' {{small|O.Stützer}} *''[[Alternanthera pungens]]'' {{small|Kunth}} *''[[Alternanthera pycnantha]]'' {{small|(Benth.) Standl.}} *''[[Alternanthera raimondii]]'' {{small|Suess.}} *''[[Alternanthera regelii]]'' {{small|(Seub.) Schinz}} *''[[Alternanthera reineckii]]'' <small>Briq.</small> *''[[Alternanthera robinsonii]]'' {{small|Suess.}} *''[[Alternanthera rufa]]'' {{small|(Mart.) D.Dietr.}} *''[[Alternanthera rugulosa]]'' {{small|(B.L.Rob.) J.T.Howell}} *''[[Alternanthera serpens]]'' {{small|Pedersen}} *''[[Alternanthera serpyllifolia]]'' {{small|(Poir.) Urb.}} *''[[Alternanthera sessilis]]'' <small>(L.) DC.</small> – rabbit-meat, sessile joyweed, downy joyweed, hairy joyweed *''[[Alternanthera snodgrassii]]'' {{small|(B.L.Rob.) J.T.Howell}} *''[[Alternanthera spinosa]]'' {{small|(Hornem.) Schult.}} *''[[Alternanthera stellata]]'' {{small|(S.Watson) Uline & W.L.Bray}} *''[[Alternanthera stenophylla]]'' {{small|(Standl.) Standl.}} *''[[Alternanthera suessenguthii]]'' {{small|Covas}} *''[[Alternanthera tetramera]]'' {{small|R.E.Fr.}} *''[[Alternanthera tomentosa]]'' {{small|(Moq.) Schinz}} *''[[Alternanthera tubulosa]]'' {{small|Suess.}} *''[[Alternanthera vestita]]'' {{small|(Andersson) J.T.Howell}} *''[[Alternanthera villosa]]'' {{small|Kunth}} {{div col end}} ===Formerly placed here=== * ''[[Gomphrena subscaposa]]'' {{small|(Hook.f.) T.Ortuño & Borsch}} (as ''Alternanthera subscaposa'' {{small|Hook.f}}) ==Ecology== Many species have been reported as noxious weeds, including ''A. angustifolia'', ''A. caracasana'', ''A. denticulata'', ''A. nana'', ''A. nodiflora'', ''A. paronychioides'', ''A. philoxeroides'', ''A. sessilis'', ''A. tenella'', and ''A. triandra''.<ref name=tan/> The most important species is [[Alternanthera philoxeroides|alligator weed]] (''A. philoxeroides''), a South American aquatic plant that has spread to other continents.<ref name=tan/> It is a weed of many kinds of [[agriculture|agricultural crops]], it is an [[invasive species]] that degrades native habitat, and its dense mats of vegetation clog waterways, slowing shipping and increasing [[flood]]ing.<ref name=tan/> ''Alternanthera'' plants are known to produce [[allelopathy|allelopathic]] compounds that injure other plants, including crops.<ref name=tan/> [[Biological pest control]] agents now in use to reduce alligator weed infestations include the [[Agasicles hygrophila|alligator weed flea beetle]] (''Agasicles hygrophila''), the [[Amynothrips andersoni|alligator weed thrips]] (''Amynothrips andersoni''), and the [[Arcola malloi|alligator weed stem borer]] (''Arcola malloi'').<ref name=tan/> ==Uses== ''A. philoxeroides'' and ''A. sessilis'' are eaten as [[vegetable]]s in parts of Asia.<ref name=tan/> Some ''Alternanthera'' are used as [[ornamental plant]]s.<ref name=tan/> ==References== {{Commons category|Alternanthera}} {{Reflist}} {{Taxonbar|from=Q2840398}} {{Authority control}} [[Category:Alternanthera| ]] [[Category:Amaranthaceae genera]] [[Category:Pantropical flora]] [[Category:Taxa named by Peter Forsskål]]
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