Pleasant alternanthera

Family Amaranthaceae. Native to Brazil.

Perennial low-growing plant 10–20 cm high. Stems grooved, branching from the base, pubescent beneath. Leaves oblong-oval or narrowly elliptic, pubescent beneath. Their coloration consists of combinations of green, red and orange. Flowers small, membranous, in not very ornamental dense, sessile inflorescences at the ends of the shoots.

According to Bailey, the alternantheras encountered under the names: 'amabilis', 'spectabilis', 'sessilis', 'rosea', 'rheinhardii', 'metalica' may be assigned to this species. Some authors consider f. amabilis a separate species, the pleasant alternanthera - A. amabilis Lem. They all differ in the shape and coloration of the leaves, mainly pink-red or bright orange.