''Alternanthera denticulata'' (common name lesser joyweed) is a small prostrate white-flowering herb in the Amaranthaceae family. It is native to all states and territories of

Australia Australia, officially the Commonwealth of Australia, is a Sovereign state, sovereign country comprising the mainland of the Australia (continent), Australian continent, the island of Tasmania, and numerous List of islands of Australia, sma ...

, New Guinea, and the

North Island The North Island, also officially named Te Ika-a-Māui, is one of the two main islands of New Zealand, separated from the larger but much less populous South Island by the Cook Strait. The island's area is , making it the world's 14th-largest ...

of New Zealand. It is also one of the food plants of the varied eggfly, ''Hypolimnas bolina nerina''. The species was first described in 1810 by Robert Brown.

Description

''Alternanthera 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, or entire.

Habitat and flowering

In Western Australia, it grows on both sand and clay soils, on the banks of creeks, rivers and swamps, flowering from April to August. 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.

Conservation status

In New Zealand, it has been assessed by the Department of Conservation as "Data Poor" but "Secure Overseas".

References

{{Taxonbar, from=Q21239037 denticulata Eudicots of Western Australia Plants described in 1810 Taxa named by Robert Brown (botanist, born 1773)