• Family : AMARANTHACEAE
  (AMARANTH FAMILY)
• Family (as per The Plant List) : Amaranthaceae
• Species : Alternanthera sessilis
• Species Name (as per The Plant List) : Alternanthera sessilis (L.) R. Br. ex DC.
• Common name : Joy Weed; Dwarf Copperleaf
• Vernacular name : Gudrisag (Hin.); Ongonne soppu, Hon-gonne soppu (Kan.); Ponnaankannikeerai (Tam.); Ponnaganti kura (Tel.); Kolamsago (Ori); Matsyakshi (San.)
• Key identification features : A low growing perennial herb rooting at the nodes. Leaves simple, opposite with variable size and shape. Flowers are small, in compact axillary inflorescences.Tepals 5, scarious. Stamens 3.
• Habit : Herb
• Flower, Fruit : Throughout the Year
• Native : Tropical and sub-tropical regions of the world
• Comments : Occasional on plains to 1500 m, abundant in moist clayey soil, in low-lying marshes, river-banks, irrigation canals etc. Also sometimes grown for its edible leaves and used in local cuisines.
• Conservation Status : Least Concern (LC)
• Distribution Locality : Throughout Eastern Ghats
• World Distribution : Tropics & sub-tropics of the World
• Literature : J.L.Ellis, 1990- Flora of Nallamalais Vol. 2; H.O. Saxena & M. Brahmam, 1995- Flora of Orissa Vol. 3 ; R. S. Rao et al., 1986 - Flora of West Godavari District ; R. S. Rao and S. H. Sreeramulu, 1986 - Flora of Srikakulam District; H. O. Saxena and M. Brahmam, 1989 - The Flora of Similipal, Orissa; IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. Version 2014.1. ; N.P.Singh, 1988. Flora of Eastern Karnataka; Matthew, K.M., The Flora of Tamil Nadu Carnatic, Vol.3 (2). Diocesan Press, Madras. 1983.
• Citation : Sankara Rao, K., Arun Singh R., Deepak Kumar, Raja K Swamy and Navendu Page (2016). Digital Flora of Eastern Ghats. http://easternghats.ces.iisc.ernet.in/plants.php?name=Alternanthera sessilis. Downloaded on 7 June 2025.

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