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Alternanthera philoxeroides
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Family:
AMARANTHACEAE
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Citation: Alternanthera philoxeroides (Mart.) Grisb., Wiss. Gnett. 24: 36. 1879; Joseph, Aquatic Angiosp. Malabar 47. 1991; Madhus. & Ajit, Journ. Econ. Tax. Bot. 17: 652. 1993; Sunil & Sivadasan, Fl. Alappuzha Dist. 590. 2009.
Bucholzia philoxeroides Mart., Nov. Acta Phys. Med. Acad. Caes. Leop. Carol. Nat. Cur. 13: 315. 1826.
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Malayalam Name(s):
Vellamkanni
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Tamil name(s):
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English name(s):
Alligatorweed
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Description:
Perennial herbs with prostrate, fistular, striate, stem rooting at the nodes and eventually become erect and aerial, often much branched forming dense masses. Leaves opposite, 5-10 x 0.5-2.5 cm, elliptic to obovate-lanceolate with acute base, with midrib prominent on the lower surface; petiole 1-6 mm long. Inflorescence axillary (occasionally terminal), pedunculate (1-5 mm long) white, globose heads, 10-18 mm across; bracts ovate-lanceolate, glabrous, acute, 1-veined, faintly keeled. Perianth dorsally compressed, white glabrous; tepals 5, subequal oblong-lanceolate with mucronate tip 1-5 nerved. Fertile stamens 5, pseudo-staminodes longer than the filaments and lacerate at tips. Pollen 10-12 ?m, spherical with 7 large pores, surrounded by pentagonal ridges. Ovary shortly stalked, ovoid with slender style and capitate, densely papillose stigma.
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Habit:
Herb
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Flowering & Fruiting:
September-March
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District(s):
Alappuzha, Ernakulam, Malappuram, Thrissur, Kannur, Kozhikkode, Wayanad
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Medicinal:
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Habitat:
Shallow water pools, ditches and marshes and mangroves
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Distribution:
Native of South America; now established in Indo-Malesia and Australia
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Aquatic:
Yes
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Epiphyte(s):
No
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Saprophyte:
No
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Stem parasite:
No
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Root parasite:
No
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Flower colour(s):
White
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Weed:
Yes
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Monocot/Dicot:
Dicotyledonous Plants
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Exotic:
Yes
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Garden:
No
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Edible:
No
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Vegetable:
No
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Endemic to:
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IUCN status:
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Altitude:
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Localities:
Cherthala, Cochin
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