Alternanthera filifolia ssp. filifolia (Hook. f.) Howell
Thread-leafed chaff flower, alternantera hilo
Thread-leafed chaff flower is native to the Galápagos Islands. It has become naturalized in Texas, Florida, and parts of Mexico. It is an important food source for bees and butterflies.
Plants: Shrubs are 1½–5′ (50–150 cm) tall, and variable in shape, with somewhat woody stems. A common form is a dense mat.
Leaves: Very narrow leaves are up to 4″ (10 cm) long.
Flowers: White flowers form tight clusters at the tips of long, bare stems. Each cluster is irregular or roughly egg-shaped, and ½″ high ⨉ ¼″ wide (1.3 cm ⨉ 8.3 mm).
Fruits: Small, wind-dispersed seeds.
Habitats: Grasslands and disturbed areas.
Online References:
References:
4/3/2025 · North Seymour, Galápagos Islands, Ecuador 
4/3/2025 · North Seymour, Galápagos Islands, Ecuador · ≈ 11 × 8″ (28 × 19 cm) 
4/4/2025 · Punta Pitt, San Cristóbal, Galápagos Islands, Ecuador · By Heather Kent 
4/3/2025 · North Seymour, Galápagos Islands, Ecuador · ≈ 13 × 9″ (34 × 22 cm) 
4/3/2025 · North Seymour, Galápagos Islands, Ecuador · ≈ 10 × 7″ (25 × 17 cm) 
4/4/2025 · Punta Pitt, San Cristóbal, Galápagos Islands, Ecuador · By Heather Kent 
| Kingdom | Plantae | Plants, but not fungi, lichens, or algae (from Stearn's Botanical Latin) |
| Subkingdom | Tracheobionta | Vascular plants—plants with a “circulatory system” for delivering water and nutrients |
| Division | Magnoliophyta | Flowering plants, also known as angiosperms |
| Class | Magnoliopsida | Dicotyledons—plants with two initial seed leaves |
| Subclass | Caryophyllidae | Cacti, many other succulents, carnivorous plants, and leadworts |
| Order | Caryophyllales | Includes cacti, carnations, amaranths, ice plants, and many carnivorous plants |
| Family | Amaranthaceae | Amaranth family |
| Genus | Alternanthera | From the Latin alternus, “alternate,” and anthera, “anthers,” referring to the alternating stamens and staminodia |
| Species | filifolia | Refers to the thread-like foliage |
| ssp. | filifolia | Refers to the thread-like foliage |
Alternanthera filifolia ssp. filifolia description by Thomas H. Kent, not updated.
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