Alternanthera philoxeroides (Mart.) Griseb.

  • Authority

    Gleason, Henry A. & Cronquist, Arthur J. 1991. Manual of vascular plants of northeastern United States and adjacent Canada. lxxv + 910 pp.

  • Family

    Amaranthaceae

  • Scientific Name

    Alternanthera philoxeroides (Mart.) Griseb.

  • Description

    Species Description - Stout perennial herb 3–10 dm, ascending or decumbent, villous at least in the axils; lvs subsessile, linear-elliptic to elliptic or obovate, 3.5–11 × 0.5–2 cm; peduncles axillary or terminal, simple, 1–5 cm, pilose; heads globose, 1.5 cm thick, white; bracts a fourth as long as the sep, broadly ovate, acute or acuminate, glabrous; sep ovate-oblong, 6 mm, acute or acutish, subchartaceous; staminodes surpassing the anthers; style elongate, the stigma entire. Wet places; native to tropical Amer., intr. as a weed in the coastal states from se. Va. to Fla. and Tex.

  • Common Names

    alligator weed