Alligatorweed

Alternanthera philoxeroides

Alligatorweed is a green plant that grows in water and wet places. It has small, bright green leaves and can spread quickly, making it a fun plant to spot near ponds and rivers.

Habitat: Wetlands

Appearance

The Alligatorweed has glossy, bright green leaves arranged opposite on hollow stems that can float. Its distinctive small, papery white flowers grow in dense, clover-like clusters at leaf axils, making it visually distinct from many submerged weeds.

KingdomPlantaePhylumTracheophytaClassMagnoliopsidaOrderCaryophyllalesFamilyAmaranthaceaeGenusAlternanthera

Alligatorweed

Interesting facts

It’s sometimes eaten as a leafy green vegetable in parts of Asia!

The name 'alligatorweed' comes from its preference for alligator habitats, not because alligators eat it!

This plant can grow roots directly into the water column without needing to touch soil!

Tiny beetles, specifically introduced by scientists, are sometimes used to munch on Alligatorweed to control its spread!

Special abilities

Alligatorweed can regrow into a whole new plant from tiny stem fragments, helping it spread incredibly fast.

Alligatorweed has hollow stems that allow it to float and form dense mats on water surfaces, blocking sunlight below.

Alligatorweed can sprout roots from almost any node along its stem, even when detached and free-floating.

Measurements & details

Height: 10-30 cm
Flower Size: 1-2 cm
Bloom Season: Spring to fall
Edible: Yes
Toxicity: None
Lifecycle: Perennial
Pollination Method: Insect

Ecological connections

eats

alligatorweed flea beetle

Agasicles hygrophila

Feeds on leaves and stems.

eats

alligatorweed thrips

Amynothrips andersoni

Sucks sap from stems and leaves.

eats

alligatorweed stem borer

Vogtia malloi

Larvae tunnel into stems.

eats

West Indian manatee

Trichechus manatus

Browses on floating mats.

eats

nutria

Myocastor coypus

Consumes significant amounts of plant.

Traits

Deciduous

Deciduous plants periodically shed all their leaves, typically during autumn or dry seasons.

Ornamental

Ornamental plants are cultivated primarily for their aesthetic appeal, enhancing landscapes and gardens with their attractive foliage, flowers, or form.

Summer Blooming

Summer blooming plants produce their flowers during the summer season, often providing vibrant color when many other plants have finished.

Rapid Growing

Rapid growing plants exhibit accelerated growth rates, quickly increasing in size and biomass within a short period.

Wetland

This habitat trait identifies species found in wetlands, which are areas of land saturated with water, either permanently or seasonally, including marshes, swamps, and bogs.