Alternanthera sessilis
Details Top
| Internal ID | UUID644008a3bbccb509955929 |
| Scientific name | Alternanthera sessilis |
| Authority | (L.) DC. |
| First published in | Cat. Pl. Horti Monsp. : 77 (1813) |
General Uses Top
Suggest a correction!Common products:
Alternanthera sessilis is primarily marketed as a leafy vegetable. The tender shoots and young leaves are harvested fresh for direct consumption, while older foliage may be dried or blanched for use in processed foods. In many Southeast Asian markets the plant appears under local names such as “rau đắng” (Vietnam) and “mukhiyala” (India) and is sold in bunches alongside other greens.
Food and beverages (non‑medicinal):
The leaves are used whole or chopped in stir‑fries, soups, curries, and steamed dishes. In Vietnam they are a common ingredient in the broth of “bánh canh” (thick noodle soup) and in the “cơm tấm” plate. In the Philippines the plant is known as “pancit molo” filling or added to “sinigang” (sour soup) for its texture. In parts of India the fresh leaves are mixed with lentils to make “puran poli”‑style savories. Commercial food processors sometimes freeze the blanched leaves for ready‑to‑cook packs sold in supermarkets.
Properties relevant to use:
The edible portion of A. sessilis contains high moisture (≈85 % by weight) and a relatively low crude‑fiber content (~2 % DW), which gives the leaves a soft texture after cooking. The dry matter is rich in protein (≈3–4 % DW) and provides moderate amounts of calcium, iron, and vitamins A and C. These nutritional characteristics support its use as a low‑calorie, nutrient‑dense vegetable in mixed dishes. The leaf’s water‑soluble pigments are primarily chlorophylls, which contribute to the characteristic green color of cooked products.
Sustainability and sourcing:
Alternanthera sessilis is a fast‑growing, semi‑aquatic annual that thrives in disturbed soils, ditches, and rice paddies. It can be harvested from the wild in many tropical regions, but commercial production increasingly relies on small‑scale cultivation using low inputs of fertilizer and irrigation. Yield trials report 10–15 t ha⁻¹ fresh weight under optimal conditions. The plant’s ability to regenerate from cuttings makes it attractive for low‑cost, on‑farm propagation. However, its vigorous growth can lead to it becoming a weed in agricultural fields, prompting some regions to regulate its spread as a potential invasive species. Sustainable harvesting practices recommend selective cutting of young shoots to maintain plant vigor and prevent over‑exploitation of wild populations.
Synonyms Top
| Scientific name | Authority | First published in |
|---|---|---|
| Paronychia sessilis | (L.) Desf. | Tabl. École Bot. : 44 (1804) |
| Achyranthes linearifolia | Sw. ex Wikstr. | in K. Vet.-Acad. Handl. 1825, 428 (1826). |
| Achyranthes sessilis | (L.) Besser | Cat. Jard. Bot. Krzemieniec : 12 (1810) |
| Achyranthes triandra | Roxb. | Fl. Ind. i. 678. |
| Achyranthes villosa | Blanco | Fl. Filip. : 189 (1837) |
| Allaganthera forsskaolei | Mart. | Pl. Hort. Erlang. 69 1814 |
| Alternanthera achyranthes | Forssk. | Fl. Aegypt.-Arab. lix, 28. 1775 [1 Oct 1775] (as achyranth.) |
| Alternanthera achyranthoides | Hiern | Cat. Afr. Pl. (Hiern) 1(4): 896. 1900 |
| Alternanthera angustifolia | R.Br. | Prodr. Fl. Nov. Holland. : 417 (1810) |
| Alternanthera angustifolia var. lanata | Benth. | Fl. Austral. 5: 251 (1870) |
| Alternanthera angustifolia var. macrocephala | Domin | Biblioth. Bot. 22(89): 642 (1921) |
| Alternanthera angustifolia var. typica | Domin | Biblioth. Bot. 22(89): 642 (1921) |
| Alternanthera denticulata | R.Br. | Prodr. Fl. Nov. Holland. : 417 (1810) |
| Alternanthera denticulata var. major | Moq. | Prodr. 13(2): 356 1849 |
| Alternanthera denticulata var. micrantha | Benth. | Fl. Austral. 5: 250 (1870) |
| Alternanthera denticulata var. uliginosa | Domin | Biblioth. Bot. 22(89): 640 (1921) |
| Alternanthera dubia | Hort.Paris. ex Moq. | Prodr. [A. P. de Candolle] 13(2): 361. 1849 [5 May 1849] |
| Alternanthera ficoides | (L.) P.Beauv. | Fl. Oware 2: 66 (1818) |
| Alternanthera ficoides var. minor | P.Beauv. | Fl. Oware 2: 66 1818 |
| Alternanthera glabra | Moq. | Prodr. 13(2): 361 (1849) |
| Alternanthera major | Domin | Biblioth. Bot. 22(89): 88 (1921) |
| Alternanthera micrantha | Domin | Biblioth. Bot. lxxxix. 86 (1921). |
| Alternanthera nana | R.Br. | Prodr. Fl. Nov. Holland. : 417 (1810) |
| Alternanthera nana var. major | Benth. | Fl. Austral. 5: 250 (1870) |
| Alternanthera nodiflora | R.Br. | Prodr. Fl. Nov. Holland. : 417 (1810) |
| Alternanthera nodiflora var. lanceolata | Moq. | Prodr. 13(2): 356 1849 |
| Alternanthera nodiflora var. linearifolia | Moq. | Prodr. 13(2): 356 (1849) |
| Alternanthera polygonoides | (L.) Sweet | Hort. Suburb. Lond. : 48 (1818) |
| Alternanthera prostrata | D.Don | Prodr. Fl. Nepal. : 76 (1825) |
| Alternanthera repens | Gmel. | Syst. Nat. ed. 13[bis] : 106 (1791) |
| Alternanthera sennii | Mattei | Boll. Reale Orto Bot. Palermo 9: 21 (1910) |
| Alternanthera sessilis var. angustifolia | Moq. | Prodr. 13(2): 357 1849 |
| Alternanthera sessilis var. denticulata | (R.Br.) Kuntze | Revis. Gen. Pl. 2: 540 1891 |
| Alternanthera sessilis f. lanceolata | Kuntze | Revis. Gen. Pl. 2: 540 1891 |
| Alternanthera sessilis var. major | Moq. | Prodr. 13(2): 357 1849 |
| Alternanthera sessilis var. neglecta | Kuntze | Revis. Gen. Pl. 2: 540 1891 |
| Alternanthera sessilis var. nodiflora | (R.Br.) Kuntze | Revis. Gen. Pl. 2: 540 1891 |
| Alternanthera sessilis var. parviflora | Kuntze | Revis. Gen. Pl. 1: 540 1891 |
| Alternanthera sessilis f. spathulifolia | Kuntze | Revis. Gen. Pl. 2: 540 1891 |
| Alternanthera sessilis var. stauntonii | Moq. | Prodr. 13(2): 357 1849 |
| Alternanthera sessilis var. tenuissima | (Suess.) Backer | in Fl. Males. 4: 93 1949 |
| Alternanthera sibirica | Steud. | Nomencl. Bot. , ed. 2, 1: 65 (1840) |
| Alternanthera tenella | Moq. | Prodr. [A. P. de Candolle] 13(2): 355. 1849 [5 May 1849] |
| Alternanthera tenuissima | Suess. | Bot. Arch. 39: 382 (1939) |
| Alternanthera triandra | Lam. | Encycl. [J. Lamarck & al.] 1(1): 95. 1783 [2 Dec 1783] |
| Alternanthera triandra var. denticulata | (R.Br.) Maiden & Betche | Census N.S.W. Pl. : 73 (1916) |
| Alternanthera triandra var. nodiflora | (R.Br.) Maiden & Betche | Census N.S.W. Pl. : 73 (1916) |
| Alternanthera uliginosa | Dinter | Repert. Spec. Nov. Regni Veg. Beih. 53: 118 (1928) |
| Gomphrena brasiliensis | Hort.Aven. ex Moq. | Prodr. [A. P. de Candolle] 13(2): 364. 1849 [5 May 1849] |
| Gomphrena polygonoides | L. | Sp. Pl. : 225 (1753) |
| Gomphrena sessilis | L. | Sp. Pl. : 225 (1753) |
| Illecebrum sessile | (L.) L. | Sp. Pl. ed. 2 : 300 (1762) |
| Alternanthera ficoides var. versicolor | Lem. | Ill. Hort. 12: t. 444 1865 |
| Alternanthera achyranthoides | Forssk. | Fl. Aegypt.-Arab. 59 & 28 1775 |
Common names Top
Add a new one! Suggest a correction!| Language | Common/alternative name |
|---|---|
| English | illecebrum sessile |
| English | achyranthes sessilis |
| English | paronychia sessilis |
| English | chaff flower |
| English | joy weed |
| English | achyranthes ficoidea var. sessilis |
| English | sessile joyweed |
| English | dwarf copperleaf |
| Spanish | alternanthera nana var. major |
| Spanish | alternanthera sessilis var. tenuissima |
| Spanish | alternanthera sessilis var. parviflora |
| Spanish | alternanthera nodiflora var. lanceolata |
| Spanish | alternanthera triandra var. denticulata |
| Spanish | alternanthera denticulata var. micrantha |
| Spanish | alternanthera angustifolia var. lanata |
| Spanish | allaganthera forsskaolei |
| Spanish | alternanthera sibirica |
| Spanish | alternanthera dubia |
| Spanish | alternanthera triandra var. nodiflora |
| Spanish | illecebrum sibiricum |
| Spanish | illecebrum indicum |
| Spanish | paronychia ficoidea |
| Arabic | نمول لاطئ |
| Bengali | চাঁচিঘাস |
| French | magloire |
| French | brède chevrette |
| French | brède emballages |
| French | serenti |
| Hausa | mai kai dubu |
| Hebrew | ביצן מכסיף |
| Indonesian | kremah |
| Kannada | ಹೊನಗೊನ್ನೆ ಸೊಪ್ಪು |
| Malagasy | maroatody |
| Malagasy | anamalaza |
| Malagasy | anambalaza |
| Malagasy | felikavola |
| Malagasy | fotsimbarinakoho |
| Malagasy | kimaroatody |
| Malagasy | pokaty |
| Malagasy | tsipoapoaka |
| Malayalam | പൊന്നാങ്കണ്ണി |
| mnw | ဝုန်က |
| Marathi | बेचकुसळ |
| Oriya | ମଦରଙ୍ଗା ଶାଗ |
| Punjab | گندل بوٹی |
| Sinhala | මුකුණුවැන්න |
| su | jatinangor |
| Tamil | பொன்னாங்கண்ணி |
| Tamil | பொன்னாங்காணி |
| Telugu | పొన్నగంటి కూర |
| Tonga | alternanthera nodiflora |
| Tonga | fisiʻiano |
| Vietnamese | rau dệu |
| Chinese | 节节花 |
| Chinese | 虾钳菜 |
| Chinese | 膨蜞菊 |
| Chinese | 白花仔 |
| Chinese | 水牛膝 |
| Chinese | 革命菜 |
| Chinese | 蓮子草 |
| Chinese | 莲子草 |
| Chinese | 满天星 |
Germination/Propagation Top
Suggest a correction or add new data!
No germination or propagation data was added yet.
Distribution (via POWO/KEW) Top
Legend for the distribution data:
- Doubtful data
- Extinct
- Introduced
- Native
-
Africa click to expand
-
East Tropical Africa
- Kenya
- Tanzania
- Uganda
-
Macaronesia
- Cape Verde
-
Northeast Tropical Africa
- Chad
- Ethiopia
- Sudan
-
Northern Africa
- Algeria
- Egypt
- Tunisia
-
South Tropical Africa
- Angola
- Malawi
- Mozambique
- Zambia
- Zimbabwe
-
Southern Africa
- Botswana
- Cape Provinces
- Free State
- Kwazulu-Natal
- Namibia
- Northern Provinces
-
West Tropical Africa
- Benin
- Burkina
- Gambia
- Ghana
- Guinea
- Guinea-Bissau
- Ivory Coast
- Liberia
- Mali
- Mauritania
- Niger
- Nigeria
- Senegal
- Sierra Leone
-
West-central Tropical Africa
- Burundi
- Cameroon
- Central African Republic
- Congo
- Gabon
- Gulf Of Guinea Islands
- Rwanda
- Zaïre
-
Western Indian Ocean
- Comoros
- Mauritius
- Rodrigues
- Réunion
- Seychelles
-
East Tropical Africa
-
Asia-temperate click to expand
-
Arabian Peninsula
- Saudi Arabia
- Yemen
-
Caucasus
- Transcaucasus
-
China
- China South-central
- China Southeast
-
Eastern Asia
- Japan
- Nansei-shoto
- Ogasawara-Shoto
- Taiwan
-
Western Asia
- Iran
- Iraq
- Lebanon-Syria
- Palestine
-
Arabian Peninsula
-
Asia-tropical click to expand
-
Indian Subcontinent
- Assam
- Bangladesh
- East Himalaya
- India
- Laccadive Islands
- Nepal
- Pakistan
- Sri Lanka
- West Himalaya
-
Indo-China
- Andaman Islands
- Cambodia
- Laos
- Myanmar
- Nicobar Nicobar
- South China Sea
- Thailand
- Vietnam
-
Malesia
- Borneo
- Christmas Island
- Jawa
- Lesser Sunda Islands
- Malaya
- Maluku
- Philippines
- Sulawesi
- Sumatera
-
Papuasia
- New Guinea
- Solomon Islands
-
Indian Subcontinent
-
Australasia click to expand
-
Australia
- New South Wales
- Northern Territory
- Queensland
- Western Australia
-
New Zealand
- New Zealand North
- New Zealand South
-
Australia
-
Europe click to expand
-
Southwestern Europe
- Spain
-
Southwestern Europe
-
Northern America click to expand
-
Mexico
- Mexico Gulf
- Mexico Northeast
- Mexico Southeast
- Mexico Southwest
-
Southeastern U.S.A.
- Alabama
- Arkansas
- Florida
- Georgia
- Louisiana
- Maryland
-
Mexico
-
Pacific click to expand
-
North-central Pacific
- Hawaii
-
Northwestern Pacific
- Caroline Islands
- Marianas
- Marshall Islands
-
South-central Pacific
- Cook Islands
- Marquesas
- Society Islands
- Tuamotu
-
Southwestern Pacific
- Fiji
- Nauru
- New Caledonia
- Samoa
- Tokelau-manihiki
- Tonga
- Tuvalu
- Vanuatu
- Wallis-Futuna Islands
-
North-central Pacific
-
Southern America click to expand
-
Brazil
- Brazil North
- Brazil Northeast
- Brazil South
- Brazil Southeast
- Brazil West-central
-
Caribbean
- Cayman Islands
- Cuba
- Dominican Republic
- Haiti
- Jamaica
- Leeward Islands
- Puerto Rico
- Trinidad-Tobago
- Windward Islands
-
Central America
- Belize
- Costa Rica
- El Salvador
- Guatemala
- Honduras
- Nicaragua
- Panamá
-
Northern South America
- French Guiana
- Guyana
- Suriname
- Venezuela
-
Southern South America
- Paraguay
-
Western South America
- Bolivia
- Colombia
- Galápagos
- Peru
-
Brazil
Links to other databases Top
Suggest others/fix!| Database | ID/link to page |
|---|---|
| World Flora Online | wfo-0000528825 |
| UNII | 5R502LRZ5J |
| Florida Plant Atlas | 1868 |
| Flora of Alabama | 273 |
| USDA Plants | ALSE4 |
| Tropicos | 1101164 |
| INPN | 81832 |
| Flora of Italy | 11634 |
| KEW | urn:lsid:ipni.org:names:1069792-2 |
| The Plant List | kew-2631425 |
| Open Tree Of Life | 490916 |
| Observations.org | 144318 |
| NCBI Taxonomy | 221762 |
| NBN Atlas | NBNSYS0200001725 |
| Nature Serve | 2.129015 |
| IUCN Red List | 164480 |
| IPNI | 1069792-2 |
| iNaturalist | 158232 |
| GBIF | 3084939 |
| Freebase | /m/02pn3c8 |
| EPPO | ALRSE |
| EOL | 585986 |
| Elurikkus | 365158 |
| USDA GRIN | 2713 |
| Wikipedia | Alternanthera_sessilis |
Genomes (via NCBI) Top
No reference genome is available on NCBI yet. We are constantly monitoring for new data.
Scientific Literature Top
Below are displayed the latest 15 articles published in PMC (PubMed Central®) and other sources (DOI number only)!
If you wish to see all the related articles click here.
If you wish to see all the related articles click here.
Phytochemical Profile Top
Add a new one!
Below are displayed the proven (via scientific papers) natural compounds!
You can also contribute to this by clicking here.
You can also contribute to this by clicking here.
| Name | PubChem ID | Canonical SMILES | MW | Found in | Proof |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| > Lipids and lipid-like molecules / Prenol lipids / Terpene glycosides / Triterpene glycosides / Triterpene saponins | |||||
| (1R,4aS,6aR,6aS,6bR,8aR,10R,11R,12aR,14bS)-10-[(2R,3R,4S,5R,6R)-3-[(2S,3R,4S,5S)-4,5-dihydroxy-3-[(2S,3R,4S,5S,6R)-3,4,5-trihydroxy-6-(hydroxymethyl)oxan-2-yl]oxyoxan-2-yl]oxy-5-hydroxy-6-(hydroxymethyl)-4-[(2S,3R,4S,5R)-3,4,5-trihydroxyoxan-2-yl]oxyoxan-2-yl]oxy-11-hydroxy-1,6a,6b,9,9,12a-hexamethyl-2-methylidene-1,3,4,5,6,6a,7,8,8a,10,11,12,13,14b-tetradecahydropicene-4a-carboxylic acid | 101035468 | Click to see CC1C2C3=CCC4C(C3(CCC2(CCC1=C)C(=O)O)C)(CCC5C4(CC(C(C5(C)C)OC6C(C(C(C(O6)CO)O)OC7C(C(C(CO7)O)O)O)OC8C(C(C(CO8)O)O)OC9C(C(C(C(O9)CO)O)O)O)O)C)C | 1059.20 | unknown | https://doi.org/10.1016/S0031-9422(99)00046-1 |
| (1R,4aS,6aS,6aS,6bR,8aR,10S,11R,12aR,14bS)-11-hydroxy-10-[(2R,3R,4R,5R,6S)-5-hydroxy-6-(hydroxymethyl)-4-[(2R,3R,4S,5S)-3,4,5-trihydroxyoxan-2-yl]oxy-3-[(2S,3S,4R,5S)-3,4,5-trihydroxyoxan-2-yl]oxyoxan-2-yl]oxy-1,6a,6b,9,9,12a-hexamethyl-2-methylidene-1,3,4,5,6,6a,7,8,8a,10,11,12,13,14b-tetradecahydropicene-4a-carboxylic acid | 163007264 | Click to see | 897.10 | unknown | https://doi.org/10.1016/S0031-9422(99)00046-1 |
| (1S,4aR,6aS,6aS,6bR,8aR,10R,11S,12aS,14bR)-10-[(2R,3R,4S,5S,6S)-3-[(2R,3R,4R,5R)-4,5-dihydroxy-3-[(2S,3R,4R,5R,6S)-3,4,5-trihydroxy-6-methyloxan-2-yl]oxyoxan-2-yl]oxy-5-hydroxy-6-(hydroxymethyl)-4-[(2R,3R,4R,5S)-3,4,5-trihydroxyoxan-2-yl]oxyoxan-2-yl]oxy-11-hydroxy-1,6a,6b,9,9,12a-hexamethyl-2-methylidene-1,3,4,5,6,6a,7,8,8a,10,11,12,13,14b-tetradecahydropicene-4a-carboxylic acid | 162946684 | Click to see | 1043.20 | unknown | https://doi.org/10.1016/S0031-9422(99)00046-1 |
| (1S,4aS,6aS,6aR,6bR,8aS,10R,11R,12aS,14bS)-10-[(2R,3R,4S,5R,6R)-3-[(2S,3S,4S,5S)-4,5-dihydroxy-3-[(2S,3S,4S,5R,6S)-3,4,5-trihydroxy-6-(hydroxymethyl)oxan-2-yl]oxyoxan-2-yl]oxy-5-hydroxy-6-(hydroxymethyl)-4-[(2S,3S,4R,5R)-3,4,5-trihydroxyoxan-2-yl]oxyoxan-2-yl]oxy-11-hydroxy-1,6a,6b,9,9,12a-hexamethyl-2-methylidene-1,3,4,5,6,6a,7,8,8a,10,11,12,13,14b-tetradecahydropicene-4a-carboxylic acid | 162849445 | Click to see | 1059.20 | unknown | https://doi.org/10.1016/S0031-9422(99)00046-1 |
| 10-[3,5-Dihydroxy-6-(hydroxymethyl)-4-(3,4,5-trihydroxyoxan-2-yl)oxyoxan-2-yl]oxy-11-hydroxy-1,6a,6b,9,9,12a-hexamethyl-2-methylidene-1,3,4,5,6,6a,7,8,8a,10,11,12,13,14b-tetradecahydropicene-4a-carboxylic acid | 162992934 | Click to see CC1C2C3=CCC4C(C3(CCC2(CCC1=C)C(=O)O)C)(CCC5C4(CC(C(C5(C)C)OC6C(C(C(C(O6)CO)O)OC7C(C(C(CO7)O)O)O)O)O)C)C | 764.90 | unknown | https://doi.org/10.1016/S0031-9422(99)00046-1 |
| 11-Hydroxy-10-[5-hydroxy-6-(hydroxymethyl)-3,4-bis[(3,4,5-trihydroxyoxan-2-yl)oxy]oxan-2-yl]oxy-1,6a,6b,9,9,12a-hexamethyl-2-methylidene-1,3,4,5,6,6a,7,8,8a,10,11,12,13,14b-tetradecahydropicene-4a-carboxylic acid | 163007263 | Click to see CC1C2C3=CCC4C(C3(CCC2(CCC1=C)C(=O)O)C)(CCC5C4(CC(C(C5(C)C)OC6C(C(C(C(O6)CO)O)OC7C(C(C(CO7)O)O)O)OC8C(C(C(CO8)O)O)O)O)C)C | 897.10 | unknown | https://doi.org/10.1016/S0031-9422(99)00046-1 |
Collections Top
| In private collections | 0 |
| In public collections | 0 |