Trees & Plants

Alligator weed

Rai vina, Kan vina

Alternanthera philoxeroides

Fairly common in water logged areas and lakes (Mart.) Grisb. NARAHDISAS NARAHDISAS .N/OAF .N/OAF It is used for treating hazy vision, night blindness, malaria, post natal complaints, fistulas, diarrhea, dysentery and puerperal fever. Th reat & damage: The plant is one among the w

Details

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uses: It is used for treating hazy vision, night blindness, malaria, post natal complaints, fistulas, diarrhea, dysentery and puerperal fever. Th reat & damage: The plant is one among the worst aquatic weeds in the world. It is a serious threat to waterways preventing navigation, blocking access, disrupting flow and impacting the diversity of aquatic flora and fauna. Managing the species has proven to be an expensive and complicated ordeal. Management: Mechanical removal and ploughing are not suitable methods since the weed can spread from cut stems and roots. Amynothrips andersoni and Agasicles hygrophila are two biocontrol agents effective against the weed. The plant is more resistant to herbicides than other aquatic macrophytes. in
family: Amaranthaceae
synonym: Achyranthes philoxeroides (Mart.) Standl., Bucholzia philoxeroides Mart.
description: Profuse, perennial subercet a herbs, stem prostrate, fistular, striate, rooting × at the nodes. Leaves opposite, 5-10 0.5-2.5 cm, elliptic to obovate-lanceolate with acute base, midrib prominent on the lower surface; to petiole 1-6 mm long. Inflorescence axillary, pedunculate, white, globose, heads 10-18 mm across; bracts ovate-lanceolate. Perianth dorsally compressed, white, glabrous; tepals 5, subequal, oblong-lanceolate with mucronate tip, 1-5 nerved. Fertile stamens eff 5, pseudo-staminodes longer than the filaments and lacerate at tips. Ovary shortly stalked, ovoid with slender style and capitate, densely papillose stigma.
native range: South America
distribution: Established in Indo-Malaysian region and Australia
english names: Alligator weed
flowering fruiting: September- March
occurrence maldives: Fairly common in water logged areas and lakes (Mart.) Grisb. NARAHDISAS NARAHDISAS .N/OAF .N/OAF