''Alternanthera denticulata'' (common name lesser joyweed) is a small prostrate white-flowering herb in the

Amaranthaceae Amaranthaceae ( ) is a family of flowering plants commonly known as the amaranth family, in reference to its type genus '' Amaranthus''. It includes the former goosefoot family Chenopodiaceae and contains about 165 genera and 2,040 species, maki ...

family. It is native to all states and territories of

Australia Australia, officially the Commonwealth of Australia, is a country comprising mainland Australia, the mainland of the Australia (continent), Australian continent, the island of Tasmania and list of islands of Australia, numerous smaller isl ...

New Guinea New Guinea (; Hiri Motu: ''Niu Gini''; , fossilized , also known as Papua or historically ) is the List of islands by area, world's second-largest island, with an area of . Located in Melanesia in the southwestern Pacific Ocean, the island is ...

, and the

North Island The North Island ( , 'the fish of Māui', historically New Ulster) is one of the two main islands of New Zealand, islands of New Zealand, separated from the larger but less populous South Island by Cook Strait. With an area of , it is the List ...

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 Robert Brown may refer to: Robert Brown (born 1965), British Director, Animator and author Entertainers and artists * Washboard Sam or Robert Brown (1910–1966), American musician and singer * Robert W. Brown (1917–2009), American printmaker ...

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

Western Australia Western Australia (WA) is the westernmost state of Australia. It is bounded by the Indian Ocean to the north and west, the Southern Ocean to the south, the Northern Territory to the north-east, and South Australia to the south-east. Western Aust ...

, 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)