Alternanthera maritima

(Martius) A. St.-Hilaire

Voy. Distr. Diam. 2: 437. 1833.

Common names: Seaside joyweed
Basionym: Bucholzia maritima Martius Nov. Gen. Sp. Pl. 2: 50, plate 147. 1826
Synonyms: Achyranthes maritima (Martius) Standley
Treatment appears in FNA Volume 4. Treatment on page 449. Mentioned on page 448.

Herbs, perennial, 3–20 dm. Stems procumbent or prostrate, glabrous. Leaves sessile; blade oblong, oblanceolate, obovate, or oval, 2–6 × 0.8–3 cm, succulent, apex obtuse to acute, mucronate, glabrous. Inflorescences axillary, sessile; heads white to stramineous, globose to ovoid, 0.6–1 × 0.6–0.8 cm; bracts about 1/2 as long as tepals. Flowers: tepals monomorphic, stramineous, striate, lanceolate, 4–5 mm, rigid margins coriaceous, apex acuminate, glabrous; stamens 5; anthers 5, oblong; pseudostaminodes lanceolate, equaling or exceeding filaments, margins fimbriate. Utricles included within tepals, stramineous, subglobose, ca. 1.5 mm, apex acute. Seeds subglobose, 1.5 mm.


Phenology: Flowering winter–spring.
Habitat: Sandy beaches, hammocks
Elevation: 0 m

Distribution

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Fla., West Indies, South America, Africa.

Discussion

Selected References

None.

Lower Taxa

None.