Alternanthera ficoidea

(L.) P. Beauv.

Parrot Leaf

Amaranthaceae Edible: Leaves, Vegetable 5,069 iNaturalist observations

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Summary

Alternanthera ficoidea, also known as Joseph's coat, Parrot leaf, is a species of flowering plant in the family Amaranthaceae. It is native to the Caribbean and South America and occurs elsewhere in the tropics as an introduced species. It is considered invasive in Palau, the Philippines and Australia (Queensland). Propagation occurs via seeds.

Description

A spreading herb. It grows in water. It grows 20-30 cm high. The stems are branching. The leaves are narrow and 8 cm long by 1.5 cm wide. The leaf stalks are very short. The leaves are olive green above and reddish underneath. The stems and leaves are hairy. The flowers are in groups in the axils of leaves. They are in round white heads that occur singly. The fruit is dry. The seeds are black.

Edible Uses

Young leaves are eaten raw with rice, or boiled as a pot herb and cooked with fish or meat in stews.

Traditional Uses

The young leaves are eaten raw with rice. The young leaves are boiled as a pot herb. They are cooked with fish or meat in stews.

This uses section is brief — help expand it

Medicinal Uses

The plant might be useful as an antiviral agent.

Distribution

A tropical plant. It grows in tropical marshes. It is common in waste places. In Argentina it grows from sea level to 500 m above sea level.

Where It Grows

Africa, Argentina, Asia, Australia, Amazon, Brazil, Chile, Guyana, India, Indonesia, Pacific, Philippines, SE Asia, South America*,

Cultivation

Plants are grown by division or cuttings. It can only live for a few months when under water.

Propagation

Seed - Division. Quite easy, since the lower stems root into the ground.

Other Uses

Plants can be grown as ground cover. The densely matted growth makes it suitable to be used to protect soil against erosion.

Notes

There are 200 Alternanthera species.

Nutrition

Part	Moisture	kJ	kcal	Protein	Vit A	Vit C	Iron	Zinc
Leaves	—	—	4.1	—	—	—	—	—

Synonyms

Alternanthera amoena VossAlternanthera tenella

Also Known As

Adaci punnaganti aalam, Bayam bang, Bayam merah, Lupog-lupog, Ponnanganni, Sanguinarea, Vellaponnankanni

References (15)

Bircher, A. G. & Bircher, W. H., 2000, Encyclopedia of Fruit Trees and Edible Flowering Plants in Egypt and the Subtropics. AUC Press. p 21 (As Alternanthera amoena)
Bodkin, F., 1991, Encyclopedia Botanica. Cornstalk publishing, p 72
Brickell, C. (Ed.), 1999, The Royal Horticultural Society A-Z Encyclopedia of Garden Plants. Convent Garden Books. p 105
Facciola, S., 1998, Cornucopia 2: a Source Book of Edible Plants. Kampong Publications, p 8
Fl. Oware 2:66, t. 99, fig. 1. 1818, nom. cons. "ficoides" (Smith in Rees, Cycl. 39(2)(suppl.): Alternanthera no. 8. 1819)

Show all 15 references

Grubben, G. J. H. and Denton, O. A. (eds), 2004, Plant Resources of Tropical Africa 2. Vegetables. PROTA, Wageningen, Netherlands. p 559 (As Alternanthera tenella)
Kohila, A. & Kensa, V. M., 2019, Survey of Wild Edible Plants of Dhanakarkulam Panchayath, Tirunelveli District, Tamil Nadu, India. Kong. Res. J. 6(2): 20-27, 2019
Kuhnlein, H. V., et al, 2009, Indigenous Peoples' food systems. FAO Rome p 191 (As Alternanthera tenella)
Lamberton, K (Ed.), 2004, The Australian gardening encyclodepia. Murdoch Books, NSW Australia. p 161
Lugod, G.C. and de Padua L.S., 1979, Wild Food Plants in the Philippines. Vol. 1. Univ. of Philippines Los Banos. p 11
Martin, F.W. & Ruberte, R.M., 1979, Edible Leaves of the Tropics. Antillian College Press, Mayaguez, Puerto Rico. p 173
Ochse,
Ramachandran, V. S., 2007, Wild edible plants of the Anamalais, Coimbatore district, western Ghats, Tamil Nadu. Indian Journal or Traditional Knowledge. 6(1) pp 173-176 (As Alternanthera tenella)
Slocum, P.D. & Robinson, P., 1999, Water Gardening. Water Lilies and Lotuses. Timber Press. p 71
Terra, G.J.A., 1973, Tropical Vegetables. Communication 54e Royal Tropical Institute, Amsterdam, p 20