Alternanthera bettzickiana

{{Speciesbox

|image =

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|genus = Alternanthera

|species = bettzickiana

|authority = (Regel) G.Nicholson

|synonyms = Alternanthera amoena

|synonyms_ref = {{GRIN | accessdate = 25 January 2018}}

}}

Alternanthera bettzickiana, commonly known as calico-plant, is a species of flowering plant in the family Amaranthaceae. It is commonly used as an ornamental edging plant. Native to South America, its cultivar 'Red' is similar in appearance to some of the Alternanthera dentata and Alternanthera brasiliana varieties.

Description

This perennial herb is between 20 and 50 cm tall and has variegated leaves. Its branched stems have a circular section towards the base and quadrangular towards the summit. They present some hairs at the nodes and the apex, as well as at the level of the short petioles (1 to 4 mm long). The leaf blade is 1 to 6 mm long and 0.5 to 2 mm wide. It is green, red or green tinged with red or yellow. Its shape is oval, sometimes a little oblong or spatulate. It is not flat but slightly wavy.Nicholson, G., 1884Illustrated Dictionary of Gardening, a Practical and Scientific Encyclopaedia of Horticulture for Gardeners and Botanists.

Flowering takes place at the end of the summer. The inflorescences are terminal or axillary; there are between 2 and 5 per flower stalk. The bracts measure 1.5 to 3 mm in length and are acuminate. The corolla and calyx are white tepals , the outermost being longer (3 or 4 mm) and hairy than the internal ones. There are 5 stamens with linear anthers. The ovary is smooth, very short style.{{cite web|url=http://www.efloras.org/florataxon.aspx?flora_id=2&taxon_id=200006974|title=Alternanthera bettzickiana (Regel) G. Nicholson|author=Flora of China|access-date=25 June 2019}}

==Cultivation==

It is particularly popular in China, where it is "cultivated in nearly all the large cities".[http://www.efloras.org/florataxon.aspx?flora_id=2&taxon_id=200006974 Alternanthera bettzickiana.] Flora of China. Thriving in full sun to partial shade, the plant has been naturalised in southeastern Queensland, Australia, where it grows in woodlands but can also be found along roads through rainforest.{{cite web |author1=F.A.Zich |author2=B.P.M.Hyland |author3=T.Whiffen |author4=R.A.Kerrigan |author2-link=Bernard Hyland |year=2020 |url=https://apps.lucidcentral.org/rainforest/text/entities/Alternanthera_ficoidea.htm |title=Alternanthera ficoidea |website=Australian Tropical Rainforest Plants Edition 8 (RFK8) |publisher=Centre for Australian National Biodiversity Research (CANBR), Australian Government |access-date=20 June 2021}} The plant is also harvested from the wild for its edible leaves, which may aid anaemic children.[http://tropical.theferns.info/viewtropical.php?id=Alternanthera+bettzickiana Alternanthera bettzickiana]

Gallery

File:Alternanthera bettzickiana 2zz.jpg|Shrubby setting

Image:AlternantheraAmoenaFlower.jpg|Flower

Image:Alternanthera_amoena-Flower-2.jpg|Flowering shrub

Image:Alternanthera bettzickiana-red-xavier cottage-yercaud-salem-India.JPG|'Red Xavier'

File:Gardenology.org-IMG 2021 hunt09oct.jpg|'Brilliantissima' cultivar

File:Alternanthera bettzickiana green yellow-2-yercaud-salem-India.jpg|Green yellow cultivar

Image:Favourite flowers of garden and greenhouse (10593961675).jpg|Botanical illustration

Alternanthera bettzickiana

Description

Gallery

References

Further reading