Alternanthera paronychioides

Species: Alternanthera paronychioides

English Name: Star Alternanthera

Chinese Name: 星星蝦鉗菜

Family: Amaranthaceae

Description:
Herbs perennial. Stem densely barbellate hairy, glabrescent. Leaf blade oblanceolate or spatulate, 1.5-2 × 0.3-0.5 cm, abaxially barbellate hairy, apex obtuse to rounded. Heads sessile, ovoid to globose, often hairy at base. Tepals white, ovate-oblong, scarious, hairy along veins, outer 3 segments: 3-veined in proximal half, inner 2 somewhat laterally compressed, 1-veined, apex acute to mucronate. Stamens 5; anthers yellow, ellipsoid; staminodes 3- or 4-toothed, ca. 1/2 as long as stamens; stigma capitate. Utricle brown, obcordate.

Photos used under a Creative Commons license

References:

– Wu ZY, Raven PH, Hong DY (eds) (2003). Flora of China, Volume 5: Ulmaceae through Basellaceae. Science Press, Beijing, and Missouri Bot Garden Press, St. Louis