Freshwater
Alligator weed
Alternanthera philoxeroides
Amaranthaceae
Facts
Care
We have no care for this plant yet. If you know how it thrives, you can suggest it.
Range
NativeIntroduced
Lives wild in Argentina, Bolivia, Brazil, Colombia, French Guiana, Guyana, Paraguay, Peru, and 4 more countries.
Introduced to Andaman Is., Australia, Bangladesh, China, China Southeast, France, Honduras, India, and 19 more countries.
More about the species
Description
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.
Other names
Other scientific names
- Achyranthes aphylla
- Achyranthes paludosa
- Achyranthes philoxeroides
- Alternanthera aphylla
- Alternanthera philoxerina
- Brandesia martiana
In other languages
- Vesikaijalehti
- Alligatorweed
Articles
All articles
How to set up a South American aquarium4 min read
Soft, acidic water, subdued light, sand, roots and fallen leaves: how to set up a biotope aquarium from the Amazon and the rivers around it.
How to set up a Central American aquarium5 min read
Hard, alkaline water, sand and rock: an aquarium from the rivers and lakes of Mexico and Central America, with cichlids and livebearers.
How to care for aquarium plants3 min read
Light, nutrients and CO₂ in balance, low tech versus high tech, and how to read from the leaves what your plants are missing.