毛蓮子草
Alternanthera bettzickiana (Regel) G. Nicholson
fig.1: calico-plant, taken by 宋穎萱 in 舊鐵橋溼地
毛蓮子草
Scientific name: Alternanthera bettzickiana
Family: Amaranthaceae
Common name: calico-plant
Chinese common name: 毛蓮子草、毛滿天星
fig.2: calico-plant, taken by 宋穎萱 in 舊鐵橋溼地
Description
1. Basic description:
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Perennial herb
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Ornamental plants
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Whole plant coat hair
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Leaves are edible
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Asexual reproduction by cutting
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Origin: South America
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Distributed: Along roadsides and in waste land in Taiwan. And wetlands distributed in Taiwan’s flatlands and low-altitude mountainous areas
2. Morphology
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Root: taproot
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Stem: Erect or ascending, 20 and 50 cm tall, stems is circular on base and quadrangular on top.
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Leaf: variegated leaves, leaf blade is oval, 1 to 6 mm long and 0.5 to 2 mm wide. It is green, red or green tinged with red or yellow. The stem is hairy.
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Flower: Capitulum, axillary, sessile, usually solitary, inflorescence is globose to ovoid, 4–6 mm in diam. Tepals white, lanceolate to oblong-elliptic. 5 stamens, ovary smooth, style short. Insect-pollinated flowers.
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Fruit: black, flat-ovate
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Seed: Achene, reddish-brown, spindle-shaped. Winged seeds, seed dispersal by wind.
fig.3: calico-plant, taken by 宋穎萱 in 中山大學
Aquatic plant
3. How does this plant adapt to an aquatic environment?
(1) Morphological Plasticity: When submerged, the plant often elongates its stems and produces more flexible, thinner leaves compared to its terrestrial form.
(2) Environmental Tolerance: The plant can tolerate fluctuating water levels and can survive periods of submersion followed by drying out.
(3) Whole plant coat hair
fig.4: calico-plant, taken by 宋穎萱 in 舊鐵橋溼地