Iresine angustifolia facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Iresine angustifolia |
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| Scientific classification | |
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Iresine
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| Species: |
angustifolia
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Iresine angustifolia is a plant often called the white snowplant in English. In Spanish, it's known as arlomo. This plant belongs to the Iresine group and is part of the Amaranthaceae family.
Contents
What it Looks Like
Iresine angustifolia is an herbaceous plant. This means it has soft, green stems, not woody ones. It can grow up to 1.5 meters (about 5 feet) tall. The plant often has many branches. Its leaves are usually 5 to 10 centimeters (2 to 4 inches) long. They can be shaped like a long oval or a spear.
Where Iresine angustifolia Lives
This plant grows in many warm places. You can find Iresine angustifolia in the southwestern United States. It also lives in Mexico, Central America, and South America. It is common in the West Indies and some islands of the Caribbean.
It usually grows in places that are not too high up. You might see it on riverbanks near the coast. It also likes to grow in thick bushes or in dry areas.
How People Use It
Iresine angustifolia is not grown on farms. However, people in some areas use it in traditional medicine. They believe it can help treat bites from an insect also called arlomo.
How it Got its Name
The plant was first officially identified in 1788. A scientist named Bengt Anders Euphrasén found it on the island of Saint Barthélemy. He wrote a detailed description of the plant. This description was part of a book about the island's plants and conditions. The book was first published in Swedish in 1975. Later, a German version came out in 1978.
Common Names
In Mexico, the plant is widely known by its common name, arlomo.
See also
In Spanish: Arlomo para niños
