Alternanthera ficoidea (L.) P.Beauv.

Krokot hijau (Alternanthera ficoidea) is a herb up to 50 cm tall from the Amaranthaceae family native to tropical South America, now popular as an ornamental and erosion-preventing ground cover. In Sri Lanka, its leaves are sometimes eaten as a vegetable, while research shows its potential as an antiviral agent. Krokot hijau is traditionally mixed with other medicinal plants to treat bronchitis and asthma.

The plant is hardy to about 1°C. It succeeds in full sun to partial shade. It prefers soil that is rich in organic matter, consistently moist, and well-drained. The base species has green leaves, but several cultivars have been developed with green leaves patterned with yellow, orange, red, brown, copper, or purple, sometimes with red veins.

• Roots lower part taprooted, often heavily branched and forming a dense tuft.
• Stem sturdy, toothed hairs.
• Leaves oblong, oblong-round to spatulate, 1-6 cm × 0.5-2 cm, finely hairy when young but later smooth, often variegated with brownish red, red, pink or yellow, petiole 1-4 mm.
• Flowers flower heads sessile, 3 outer tepals clearly 3-veined, glossy white or yellowish, filaments united at the base into a very short cup.
• Fruit very similar to its inflorescence, consisting of dense bracts interspersed with pale hairs. Individual fruit about 1 mm, enclosed in the persistent perianth segments and bracts.
• Seeds disc-shaped, about 1 mm in diameter, brown in color.

Propagation is done generatively with seed and vegetatively with shoot/tip cuttings.

Tannins, saponins, phytol, carotenoids, xanthophyll, and polyphenols.

Removes kidney stones, treats inflammation of the uterus and ovaries, stops bleeding and acts as a hair tonic, and as a mixture with other medicinal plants to treat hepatitis, chest tightness, bronchitis, asthma and other lung problems.

Jukut jatinangor (Sunda), Kecicak abang (Java).