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Alternanthera sessilis

(L.) R.Br. ex DC. (1813)

This name is accepted

Kingdom: Viridiplantae Phylum: Magnoliophyta Class/Clade: Eudicot-CoreEudicot Order: Caryophyllales Family: Amaranthaceae Genus: Alternanthera

sessile joyweed

Description

Key Characters:

Growth Form: Perennial herbs.

Stems: Stems prostrate, rarely ascending, often rooting at the nodes, 1–10 dm long, villous in lines and transversely at the nodes.

Roots:

Leaves: Leaves simple. Opposite. Blades obovate to broadly elliptic, occasionally linear–lanceolate, 1–15 cm long, 0.3–3 cm wide. Surfaces glabrous to sparsely villous. Margins entire. Petioles 1–5 mm long. Stipules absent.

Flowers: Flowers in sessile spikes. Flowers bisexual (perfect), actinomorphic. Each flower subtended by a bract and 2 bracteoles. Bract and bracteoles shiny white, 0.7–1.5 mm long, glabrous. Calyx of 5 sepals, equal, 2.5–3 mm long, outer ones 1–nerved or indistinctly 3–nerved toward base. Corolla (petals) absent. Stamens 5, 2 sterile. Ovary superior, 2–3(4)-carpellate, the carpels connate to form a compound, 1-celled ovary; ovule placentation basal, free-central, or rarely apical; style 1, often lobed.

Fruit: Urticles 2–2.3 mm long; exceeding the sepals. Seeds 1 per fruit; the surface usually lustrous; endosperm essentially absent.

Ploidy: 2n = 34; 36; 40; 96

Habitat:

Elevation Range:

Historical Distribution

Synonyms (52)

Achyranthes linearifolia Sw. ex Wikstr. (1826)
Achyranthes polygonoides (L.) Lam. (1785)
Achyranthes repens Elliott (1817)
Achyranthes sessilis (L.) Besser (1810)
Achyranthes triandra Roxb. (1814)
Achyranthes villosa Blanco (1837)
Allaganthera forsskaolei Mart. (1814)
Alternanthera achyranth Forssk. (1775)
Alternanthera achyranthoides Hiern (1900)
Alternanthera denticulata var. bifaria Hassk. (1842)
Alternanthera denticulata var. major Moq. (1849)
Alternanthera dubia Moq. (1849)
Alternanthera ficoides P.Beauv. (1818)
Alternanthera ficoides var. minor P.Beauv. (1818)
Alternanthera ficoides var. versicolor Lem. (1865)
Alternanthera glabra Moq. (1849)
Alternanthera polygonoides (L.) R.Br. ex Sweet (1818)
Alternanthera prostrata D.Don (1825)
Alternanthera repens J.F.Gmel. (1791)
Alternanthera sessilis f. lanceolata Kuntze (1891)
Alternanthera sessilis f. spathulifolia Kuntze (1891)
Alternanthera sessilis var. angustifolia Moq. (1849)
Alternanthera sessilis var. major Moq. (1849)
Alternanthera sessilis var. neglecta Kuntze (1891)
Alternanthera sessilis var. parviflora Kuntze (1891)
Alternanthera sessilis var. stauntonii Moq. (1849)
Alternanthera sessilis var. tenuissima (Suess.) Backer (1949)
Alternanthera sibirica (Vent. ex Schult.) Steud. (1840)
Alternanthera sissoo Velde (2003)
Alternanthera tenella Moq. (1849)
Alternanthera tenuissima Suess. (1939)
Alternanthera triandra Lam. (1783)
Alternanthera uliginosa (Domin) Dinter (1928)
Bucholzia polygonoides (L.) Mart. (1826)
Gomphrena brasiliensis Moq. (1849)
Gomphrena polygonoides L. (1753)
Gomphrena sessilis L. (1753)
Illecebrum denticulatum Spreng. (1824)
Illecebrum glabrum Spreng. ex Moq. (1849)
Illecebrum indicum Houtt. (1777)
Illecebrum polygonoides (L.) L. (1762)
Illecebrum sessile Pall. ex Moq. (1849)
Illecebrum sessilis L.
Illecebrum sibiricum Vent. ex Schult. (1819)
Illecebrum triandrum Llanos (1851)
Paronychia dubia Moq. (1849)
Paronychia sessilis (L.) Desf. (1804)
Paronychia tetragona Moench (1794)
Steiremis sessilifolia Raf. (1837)
Telanthera polygonoides (L.) Moq. (1849)
Telanthera polygonoides var. compacta Moq. (1849)
Telanthera polygonoides var. major Moq. (1849)

Uses and Culture

USES

  • Yes

Natural History

Statewide Status

Naturalized

Island Status

Kaua'i Naturalized
O'ahu Naturalized
Molokai Naturalized
Lana'i Naturalized
Maui Naturalized
Hawai'i Naturalized

Dispersal Agents


Pollinators

Bibliography

Name Published In: Cat. Pl. Horti Monsp.: 77 (1813)

Other References

Wagner et al. 1990:185 (O, Mo, M, H); Lorence et al. 1995:21 (K); Staples & Herbst 2005:100 (KEY), 101 (DESCR); Imada 2007:34 (L)

Occurrences

SNo. Scientific Name Locality Habitat Basis of Record Description Recorded By Record Number Island Source Date
1 Alternanthera sessilis Behind Donkey Beach, between Kealia and Anahola In marshy ground. Preserved_Specimen Spreading herb. Stem purplish-brown to pale green at nodes, somewhat glossy. Leaf above green, glossy, central vein pale becoming purplish near base; below paler, less glossy. Flowers in white heads; sepals white to nearly transparent; flower appears green at center; anthers pale yellow. Hume, L. 362 Kauai BISH 1988-10-23
2 Alternanthera sessilis Honolulu, Fair Grounds, fairway of short hole in Golf Links During rainy time, filled with water. Preserved_Specimen Neal, M.C. Oahu BISH 1938-02-20
3 Alternanthera sessilis Hanapepe River Crossing, Hanapepe Town, Kauai, Hawaii Growing mauka of bridge on mucky wet banks. Preserved_Specimen Decumbent herbaceous weed, radiating from central root. Opposite green leaves, with prominent pale mid-vein and white compact, head flowers at leaf axis. Other species Pluchea indica, Setaria verticillata, Amaranthus spinosus, Boerhavia coccinea, Cynodon dactylon, Alternanthera pungens, Leonotis sp., and Ricinus communis. Crago, L.M. 2005161 Kauai BISH 2005-08-03
4 Alternanthera sessilis Honolulu, Bishop Museum courtyard. Preserved_Specimen Weeds among laua'e; creeping or erect; inflorescence white. Neal, M.C. Oahu BISH 1964-03-09
5 Alternanthera sessilis Koloa District; Hanapepe River at Ho Road crossing, Hanapepe Growing on river bank, wet area. Occasional. Preserved_Specimen Node-rooting herb. Inflorescences white. Lorence, D.H. 5206 Kauai BISH 1987-05-05
6 Alternanthera sessilis Near Waimanalo junction, Kailua Roadside. Preserved_Specimen Prostrate. Fosberg, F.R. 10928 Oahu BISH 1935-06-28
7 Alternanthera sessilis Wailoa estuary, Hilo Floating near bank. Preserved_Specimen Stemmermann, R.L. 7176 Hawaii BISH 1987-07-25
8 Alternanthera sessilis Honolulu International Airport, received in a shipment from Singapore. Cultivated aquatic plant imported via Worldwide Aquatics, Honolulu, for a company in Texas Preserved_Specimen Stem cuttings 8-10 long, without roots. Leaves tapering elliptic, narrowing at both ends, deep wine red beneath. Inflorescence tiny white clusters in leaf axils. Hoe, W.J. 5337 Oahu BISH 1992-08-18
9 Alternanthera sessilis Boulder beach, Waimanu Valley, Kohala Preserved_Specimen Stemmermann, R.L. 6885 Hawaii BISH 1984-02-16
10 Alternanthera sessilis 4090 Akemama Rd., Lawai Growing by trash can. Preserved_Specimen Wagner, W.L. 5623 Kauai BISH 1985-01-01
11 Alternanthera sessilis Moiliili, Corner of Coyne St. snd Kaialiu St. In irrigated, fully sunny flower bed. Preserved_Specimen Leaves dark maroon, flowers white. Associates Ipomoea batatas, Artemisia vulgaris, Euphorbia prostrata Arthur, K. 169 Oahu BISH 2025-09-04
12 Alternanthera sessilis Honolulu, back of Houghtailing and Vineyard Streets Cattle-grazed enclosure. Preserved_Specimen Egler, F.E. 37265 Oahu BISH 1937-08-18
13 Alternanthera sessilis East Maui, Hana District Coastal pasture lands SE of Ka`uiki from Kaihalulu Bay to Ka Iwi o Pele. Preserved_Specimen Sprawling herb. Infl bracts white; stems and petioles and base of midvein reddish. Flynn, T.W. 2536 Maui BISH 1987-10-22
14 Alternanthera sessilis Honolulu, Bishop Museum courtyard Among laua`e. Preserved_Specimen Weeds creeping or erect; inflorescence white. Neal, M.C. Oahu BISH 1964-03-09
15 Alternanthera sessilis Manele Bay Emerging from cement curbside in Manele Bay beach parking lot. Preserved_Specimen Small herb with red stems. Lanai Conservation Internship Program 3 Lanai BISH 2005-07-07
16 Alternanthera sessilis West side of Kawainui Marsh, Kailua Locally common in moving water. Preserved_Specimen Forming floating masses, leaves purple beneath, inflorescences whitish. Fosberg, F.R. 57428 Oahu BISH 1978-03-28
17 Alternanthera sessilis East Maui, Keanae Growing as a weed in a garden area. Preserved_Specimen Hobdy, R.W. 2525 Maui BISH 1986-02-26
18 Alternanthera sessilis Honolulu, Waikahululu, Nuuanu Stream at School Street Bridge Single plant in crevice of stone wall above stream. Preserved_Specimen Pendent. Fosberg, F.R. 27095 Oahu BISH 1946-09-22
19 Alternanthera sessilis Albert H. Azevedo Field, jct. of Hihimanu St. and Kalanianaole Hwy in Waimanalo Roadside. Preserved_Specimen Wagner, W.L. 4828 Oahu BISH 1983-06-04
20 Alternanthera sessilis Heeia Kea Boat Harbor Edge of parking lot, from saturated soil with standing water Preserved_Specimen Locally common from permanently saturated soil with other plants including Eleocharis and Cyperus. Leaves burgundy Faccenda, K. 2698 Oahu BISH 2022-09-20
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