About Aligator Weed
Alternanthera philoxeroides, commonly referred to as alligator weed, is a native species to the temperate regions of South America, which includes Argentina, Brazil, Paraguay and Uruguay. Argentina alone hosts around 27 species that fall within the range of the genus Alternanthera. Its geographic range once covered only the Parana River region of South America, but it has since expanded, having been introduced to over 30 countries, such as the United States, Japan, China, Australia, New Zealand and many more. This invasive species is believed to have been accidentally introduced to these non-native regions through sediments trapped by, or attached to, tanks and cargo of ships travelling from South America to these various areas.
Description adapted from Wikipedia, licensed under CC BY-SA 4.0.
Plant Details
- Scientific name
- Alternanthera philoxeroides
- Genus
- Alternanthera
- Family
- AMARANTHACEAE
- Habit
- Herb
- Native to
- South America, now established in Indo-Malaysia and Australia
- Flowering & fruiting
- May-November
- Conservation status
- Not Evaluated (NE)
Local Names
- Bengali
- Danta, মালঞ্চ শাক, মদরংগা
- Kannada
- ದೊಡ್ಡಹೊನಗೊನೆ Dodda honagone, ಮೊಸಳೆಹೊನಗೊನೆ Mosale honagone
Amaranthaceae
Amaranth family
Aligator Weed belongs to the Amaranthaceae family.
The illustration represents the family — not necessarily this exact species.
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