Common name: Alligator Weed
Alternanthera philoxeroides (Mart.) Griseb. APNI* 
Description: Stoloniferous, aquatic, semiaquatic or terrestrial perennial, glabrous; stolons to 10 m long, rooting at the nodes.
Leaves obovate to narrow-elliptic, 2–7 cm long, 10–20 mm wide, acute, sessile.
Inflorescence subglobose, 8–10 mm diam., of few to several flowers. Bracts ovate, acute to acuminate. Perianth segments elliptic, 4–4.5 mm long, acute, papery, white. Stamens 5. Style c. 0.5 mm long.
Distribution and occurrence: Forms dense floating or rooted mats in aquatic and seasonally inundated land. Native of South America.
NSW subdivisions: *NC, *CC, *SC, *ST, *NWS, *CWS, *SWS
Other Australian states: *Vic.
See also NSW WeedWise profile.
Text by S. W. L. Jacobs & L. Lapinpuro; edited by P. Lu-Irving (Oct 2024)
Taxon concept: Flora of NSW 1 (1990)
APNI* Provides a link to the Australian Plant Name Index (hosted by the Australian National Botanic Gardens) for comprehensive bibliographic data
***The AVH map option provides a detailed interactive Australia wide distribution map drawn from collections held by all major Australian herbaria participating in the Australian Virtual Herbarium project.
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