Alternanthera sessilis (L.) A.DC
Family
Amaranthaceae
Synonyms
Alternanthera triandra Lamk, Alternanthera denticulate R.Br., Alternanthera nodiflora R.Br.
Vernacular Names
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Malaysia |
Keremak, pudoh, kermak bukit. |
|
Indonesia |
Kremek (Sundanese), bayem kremah (Javanese), daun tolod (Moluccas). |
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Philippines |
Bunga-bunga (Tagalog), bilanamanut (Magindanao), gogoat (Bontok). |
|
Cambodia |
Chë:ng bângko:ng (Kompong Thom). |
|
Laos |
Khaix ped, phak ph’ê:w (Louang Prabang), nê: ti:d kho:x (Vientiane). |
|
Thailand |
Phakpet khaao, phakpet thai. |
|
Vietnam |
Rau d[eej]u (General). |
Geographical Distributions
Alternanthera sessilis is distributed throughout the tropics and subtropics of America, Africa and Asia; and also throughout Malaysia.
Description
Alternanthera sessilis is a perennial but sometimes annual herb that can grow up to 1 m tall. It is erect, ascending or creeping, often widely branched, with robust taproot, solid stems, sometimes floating in water and then fistulose in lower part and with smooth hairs.
The leaves are linear-lance-shaped, oblong to ovate or obovate, measuring 1-15 cm x 0.5-3 cm, and hairless or sparsely hairy. The petiole is 1-5 mm long.
Its flowering heads are sessile with 1-veined tepals or only 3-veined at the very base, shiny white or purplish. The filaments are united at base into a very short cup.
The fruit is obreniform, corky and measures about 2 mm long.
Ecology / Cultivation
Alternanthera sessilis is a very common plant of constant or periodically humid, open localities in roadsides, gardens, ditches, swamps, rice fields and tea plantations, and can be found up to 1250 m altitude.
Line Drawing / Photograph
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1) Safety
References
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Plant Resources of South-East Asia No.12(1):Medicinal and poisonous plants 1.
