Galapagos Species Database
The Galapagos Species Database shares the information about the species from our Natural History Collections.
Alternanthera caracasana
sangradera, sanguinaria de Cuba, khaki-weed, mat chaff-flower, washerwoman
Herbs, perennial, 1-5 dm. Stems prostrate to procumbent, villous, glabrate. Leaves sessile; Inflorescences axillary, sessile ; Flowers: tepals dimorphic, whitish to stramineous, lanceolate, 3-5 mm, apex acuminate, spinose tipped, densely villous, hairs barbed; Seeds ovate-orbiculate, 1-1.5 mm (WFO, 2022)
It is has environmental uses (POWO, 2022)
Domain
Eukaryota
Kingdom
Plantae
Phylum
Magnoliophyta
Class
Magnoliopsida (= Dicotyledoneae)
Order
Caryophyllales
Family
Amaranthaceae
Genus
Alternanthera
Species
caracasana
Taxon category: Accepted
Syn.: Alternanthera peploides (Willd. ex Roem. & Schult.) Urb.
Origin: Introduced - established
Year of first record: 1977
Mode of introduction: Accidental
Introduction Pathway: Contaminant
Subpathway: Contaminant on plants (inc. seeds and plant associated material)
Introduced status: Naturalized
Invasive status: No data
Map of specimen collection localities or observation records for this species in our collections database.
Distribution: Its native range is Mexico to Tropical America (POWO, 2022)
- Eliasson, U. (1989) Especies de Amaranthaceae en las Islas Galápagos y sus relaciones con las especies del continente Sudamericano. Pg. 33 - 38. Memorias. Taller sobre investigación Botánica y menejos en Galápagos.
- Eliasson, U.H. Uno (1987) Amaranthaceae. Flora del Ecuador 28: 1–138.
- Tropicos.org. (2017) Database of Missouri Botanical Garden. Tropicos.org. Missouri Botanical Garden. 06 Oct 2017 <http://www.tropicos.org
You are welcome to download and use the information found in this page, acknowledging its source.
This page should be cited as follows:
"Galapagos Species Database, Alternanthera caracasana", dataZone. Charles Darwin Foundation, https://datazone.darwinfoundation.org/en/checklist/?species=137. Accessed 2 November 2026.