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Alternanthera ficoidea 'White Carpet'
| Family Name: | Amaranthaceae |
| Synonyms: | Alternanthera ficoidea 'Brazilian Snow', Alternanthera ficoidea 'Snow Carpet' |
| Common Name: | Brazilian Snow Flower, Brazilian Snowflower, 白苋草 |
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Name
Classifications and Characteristics
| Plant Division | Angiosperms (Flowering Seed Plants) (Dicotyledon) |
|---|---|
| Plant Growth Form | Herbaceous Plant |
| Lifespan (in Singapore) | Perennial |
| Mode of Nutrition | Autotrophic |
| Plant Shape | Compact |
| Maximum Height | 0.2 m to 0.3 m |
| Maximum Plant Spread / Crown Width | 0.2 m to 0.3 m |
Description and Ethnobotany
| Growth Form | Perennial herbaceous plant up to 0.3 m tall. |
|---|---|
| Foliage | Leaves silvery-green with irregular white margins, bumpy and puckered in appearance. |
| Flowers | Flowers creamy-greenish, inconspicuous, produced at leaf axils in head-like clusters with papery sepals. |
| Cultivation | Grown for its attractive foliage. Compact and low form makes it an ideal groundcover for borders or in containers and terrariums. Prune away growing tips to encourage bushy growth. Leaves occasionally attacked by caterpillars. Leaves of certain shoots may sometimes revert to pure green form. |
Landscaping Features
| Desirable Plant Features | Ornamental Foliage |
|---|---|
| Landscape Uses | General, Skyrise / Balcony, Vertical Greenery / Green Wall, Flowerbed / Border, Terrarium, Container Planting |
| Thematic Landscaping | Silver Garden, Moonlight Garden |
| Plant & Rootzone Preference or Tolerance Remarks | Moderate salinity tolerance |
Fauna, Pollination and Dispersal
| Fauna Pollination Dispersal Associated Fauna | Butterfly Host Plant |
|---|
Plant Care and Propagation
| Light Preference | Semi-Shade, Full Sun |
|---|---|
| Water Preference | Moderate Water |
| Plant Growth Rate | Moderate |
| Rootzone Tolerance | Fertile Loamy Soils, Well-Drained Soils, Saline Soils / Salt Spray, Easy to Grow |
| Maintenance Requirements | Moderate |
| Pruning | Prune off growing tips regularly to keep plant compact and bushy. |
| Diseases | Leaves attacked by caterpillars occasionally. |
| Propagation Method | Stem Cutting, Division |
| Planting Distance | 0 |
Foliar
| Foliage Retention | Evergreen |
|---|---|
| Mature Foliage Colour(s) | Green, Silver / Grey, White |
| Mature Foliage Texture(s) | Smooth |
| Foliar Type | Simple / Unifoliate |
| Foliar Arrangement Along Stem | Opposite |
| Foliar Shape(s) | Non-Palm Foliage (Oblong, Spathulate) |
| Foliar Venation | Pinnate / Net |
| Foliar Margin | Entire - Wavy / Undulate |
| Foliar Apex - Tip | Obtuse |
| Foliar Base | Cuneate |
| Typical Foliar Area | Microphyll ( 2.25cm2 - 20.25 cm2 ) |
| Leaf Area Index (LAI) for Green Plot Ratio | 4.5 (Shrub & Groundcover - Dicot) |
Non - Foliar and Storage
| Stem Type & Modification | Herbaceous |
|---|---|
| Root Type | Underground (Fibrous Root) |
Floral (Angiosperm)
| Flower & Plant Sexuality | Bisexual Flowers |
| Flower Colour(s) | Cream / Off-White, Green |
|---|---|
| Flowering Period | Free-Flowering |
| Flowering Habit | Polycarpic |
Image Repository
Others
| Master ID | 3446 |
|---|---|
| Species ID | 3307 |
| Flora Disclaimer | The information in this website has been compiled from reliable sources, such as reference works on medicinal plants. It is not a substitute for medical advice or treatment and NParks does not purport to provide any medical advice. Readers should always consult his/her physician before using or consuming a plant for medicinal purposes. |
