Alternanthera

Joseph's Coat, Calico Plant, Chaff-flower, Broad Path

Message of the Flower

Integral Immortality

The Mother’s Comment

It is a promise! When will it be a material fact?

Spiritual Message by the Mother/ Quotes by Sri Aurobindo

By immortality is meant the consciousness which is beyond birth and death, beyond the chain of cause and effect, beyond all bondage and limitation, free, blissful, self-existent in conscious-being, the consciousness of the Lord, of the supreme Purusha, of Sachchidananda.

Sri Aurobindo, Isha Upanishad: II. Knowledge and Ignorance

Immortality in its fundamental sense does not mean merely some kind of personal survival of the bodily death; we are immortal by the eternity of our self-existence without beginning or end, beyond the whole succession of physical births and deaths through which we pass, beyond the alternations of our existence in this and other worlds: the spirit's timeless existence is the true immortality.

Sri Aurobindo, The Life Divine - II: Out of the Sevenfold Ignorance towards the Sevenfold Knowledge

Colour

White

Family

Amaranthaceae

Cultivars

Numerous, including 'Purple Knight', 'Red Threads', 'Brazilian Red Hots'

Person who named the flower

Carl Linnaeus

Flower Size

Very small, often less than 0.5 inches

Flower Texture

Smooth

Number of Petals

Small flowers, details vary by species

Floral Symmetry

Radial

Fragrance of Flower

No

Leaf Texture

Smooth to slightly textured

Leaf Arrangement

Opposite or whorled

Leaf Color

Varies widely among cultivars, from green to purple, red, and variegated

Structural Variation (Shrub or Tree)

Mostly herbaceous plants or small shrubs

Life Cycle

Perennial in warm climates, often grown as annuals in cooler regions

Blooming Period

Summer

Climate

Tropical to subtropical; some species tolerate temperate climates

Water Requirements

Moderate; requires consistent moisture for best performance

Soil Type

Prefers well-drained, fertile soil

Temperature Ranges

Prefers warm temperatures; not frost-hardy

Sun or Shade

Full sun to partial shade, depending on the species and cultivar

Susceptibility to Insects and Diseases

Susceptible to aphids, spider mites, and fungal diseases in humid conditions

Pollinators

Flowers are small and not the main attraction; pollinator information is minimal

Habitat

Native to various regions including the Americas, often found in open, sunny locations

Role in the Ecosystem

Ornamental value; provides ground cover and erosion control in landscaped areas

Ornamental

Widely used in landscaping for their colorful foliage

Uses in Other Aspects of Life

Mainly ornamental

Endangered Status

Not generally considered endangered; status may vary by specific species