# 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. - **Category:** [Plants](https://www.snappit.app/explore/categories/plant) - **Rarity:** Common - **Danger:** 1/5 · Very low - **Snaps:** 2 - **Habitat:** Wetlands ![Alligatorweed](https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?title=Special:Redirect/file/Alternanthera_philoxeroides_NRCS-1.jpg&width=800) Photo: National Plant Data Center, Baton Rouge, LA 70874-4490 USA., Public domain · [Wikimedia Commons](https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Alternanthera_philoxeroides_NRCS-1.jpg) ## 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. ## Taxonomy - **Kingdom:** Plantae - **Phylum:** Tracheophyta - **Class:** Magnoliopsida - **Order:** Caryophyllales - **Family:** Amaranthaceae - **Genus:** Alternanthera ## 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 - **Fragment Fanatic:** Alligatorweed can regrow into a whole new plant from tiny stem fragments, helping it spread incredibly fast. - **Water Walker:** Alligatorweed has hollow stems that allow it to float and form dense mats on water surfaces, blocking sunlight below. - **Rooty Rescuer:** 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](https://www.snappit.app/explore/west-indian-manatee) (*Trichechus manatus*) — Browses on floating mats. - **Eats:** nutria (*Myocastor coypus*) — Consumes significant amounts of plant. ## Traits - [Deciduous](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/deciduous): Deciduous plants periodically shed all their leaves, typically during autumn or dry seasons. - [Ornamental](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/ornamental): Ornamental plants are cultivated primarily for their aesthetic appeal, enhancing landscapes and gardens with their attractive foliage, flowers, or form. - [Summer Blooming](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/summer-blooming): Summer blooming plants produce their flowers during the summer season, often providing vibrant color when many other plants have finished. - [Rapid Growing](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/rapid-growing): Rapid growing plants exhibit accelerated growth rates, quickly increasing in size and biomass within a short period. - [Wetland](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/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. - [Freshwater](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/freshwater): Freshwater habitats include non-saline aquatic environments such as rivers, lakes, ponds, and wetlands, vital for numerous species. - [Aquatic](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/aquatic): Aquatic habitats encompass environments where organisms live predominantly in water, including oceans, rivers, lakes, and wetlands. - [Invasive](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/invasive): Invasive species are non-native organisms that cause harm to the environment, economy, or human health. ## Collections - [Plants](https://www.snappit.app/explore/collections/plants) ## Safety **Danger:** 1/5 · Very low Always wash your hands after touching plants, just to be safe! ## Frequently Asked Questions ### How to identify Alligatorweed? Start with the whole plant, then compare leaf arrangement, leaf edges, stems and any flowers or fruit. Opposite leaves grow in pairs; alternate leaves come one at a time along the stem. These details tell you far more together than a single green leaf does. Plant Identifier: upload a photo and compare the visible details. ### How tall is Alligatorweed? 10-30 cm ### How big are the flowers on Alligatorweed? 1-2 cm ### When does Alligatorweed bloom? Spring to fall ### Is Alligatorweed edible? Yes ### Is Alligatorweed toxic? None ### What is Alligatorweed's lifecycle? Perennial ### How is Alligatorweed pollinated? Insect ## Where to spot - [Jackson Street Historic District](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/jackson-street-historic-district) — Louisiana, US · Historic District - [Old Fessenden Academy Historic District](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/old-fessenden-academy-historic-district) — Florida, US · Campus ## More Plants - [white snakeroot](https://www.snappit.app/explore/white-snakeroot) (*Ageratina altissima*) - [tree-of-heaven](https://www.snappit.app/explore/tree-of-heaven) (*Ailanthus altissima*) - [western sword fern](https://www.snappit.app/explore/western-sword-fern) (*Polystichum munitum*) - [common milkweed](https://www.snappit.app/explore/common-milkweed) (*Asclepias syriaca*) --- Source: [Alligatorweed: Facts & Places to See — Snappit](https://www.snappit.app/explore/alligatorweed)