Alternanthera denticulata
R.Br. Lesser JoyweedTrailing to weakly ascending annual or perennial, stems to c. 50 cm long or more, pubescent (at least when young) along opposite lines on internerves and at nodes. Leaves oblong or narrowly elliptic 25–70 mm long, 2–8 mm wide, glabrescent; margins irregularly and minutely callus-toothed. Flowers in axillary spherical to ovoid spikes, 4–8 mm long; bracts and bracteoles acuminate, mostly 1–2 mm long; tepals equal, lanceolate, usually 2.5–3.5 mm long and under 1 mm wide, glabrous, white or pinkish, remaining free to base; fertile stamens usually 3, alternting with staminodes, rarely staminodes absent. Fruit broadly obcordate, c. 1 mm long, 1.5 mm wide. Flowers most of year, mainly Oct.–Jan.
LoM, MuM, Wim, GleP, VVP, VRiv, MSB, RobP, MuF, GipP, OtP, WaP, Gold, CVU, GGr, DunT, NIS, EGL, EGU, HSF, HNF, OtR, Strz, VAlp. All States. Widespread and common almost throughout the lowlands, inhabiting margins of swamps, rivers etc.
Although usually distinctive, A. denticulata may be difficult to discern from A. sp. 1. As well as the features outlined in the key, the bracts, bracteoles and tepals of A. denticulata tend to be longer and relatively narrower than A. sp. 1.
Walsh, N.G. (1996). Amaranthaceae. In: Walsh, N.G.; Entwisle, T.J., Flora of Victoria Vol. 3, Dicotyledons Winteraceae to Myrtaceae, pp. 199–215. Inkata Press, Melbourne.
Spinning
