Fittonia: taxon details and analytics

Domain
Kingdom
Plantae
Phylum
Tracheophyta
Class
Magnoliopsida
Order
Lamiales
Family
Acanthaceae
Genus
Fittonia
Species
Scientific Name
Fittonia

Summary description from Wikipedia:

Fittonia

Fittonia (or nerve plant or mosaic plant) is a genus of evergreen perennial flowering plants in the acanthus ('bear’s britches') family, Acanthaceae. The genus is native to tropical and subtropical forested areas in northern and western South America, mainly Perú.

The most commonly cultivated species is F. albivenis and its range of cultivars. They are low-lying, forest floor plants, typically only growing between 10–15 cm (4–6 in) tall, without the 5-10 cm (1-4 in) tall flower stalks. The main feature of the species is its lush, green foliage, streaked with veins of white to deep pink, depending on cultivar; this veining earns the plant its common name of 'Nerve-Plant', as the "network" of vessels appears to resemble the layout of a nervous system. The plants also possess a short fuzz on their stems, like other acanthus family genera. Small buds may appear after a time where the stem splits into leaves.

With a spreading growth habit making it ideal as a shaded garden groundcover, Fittonia can easily be propagated by taking cuttings or by pruning the growing tips. These fresh clippings will regrow roots simply by placing the cut ends in a vessel of water in a bright, albeit indirectly-lit, location. Optionally, this method of "water-propagation" may be avoided altogether, as most cuttings may be placed directly into moist substrate, such as sphagnum moss, perlite, coconut (coco) fiber, well-aerated soil, or even LECA (hydroton clay balls). As most plant species will do after being pruned, the trimmed section(s) of the mother plant will be triggered to grow new leaves in a matter of weeks.

The flowers are rather small, appearing on angular-sided bloom spikes, with a white to off-white colour. Fittonia inflorescences are quite reminiscent of those of the related genus Hypoestes (polka-dot plants); additionally, like the Hypoestes, Fittonia are best kept in a moist area with mild, indirect but bright sunlight, or under screening outdoors in appropriate climates. They thrive in ambient temperatures above 55 °F (13 °C), thus, in temperate areas, they must be grown as houseplants. Notoriously thirsty plants, Fittonia (and Hypoestes) are known to "faint" or wilt when the top layer of substrate begins to dry, but is quickly revived with watering. The plants respond especially well to "bottom watering", or by submerging a potted specimen in a tray of water instead of pouring water from above. This has the added benefit of keeping the leaves free of water droplets or splashed dirt, which could both lead to fungal infections, such as powdery mildew.

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Fittonia in languages:

Danish
rødåre
Swedish
åderbladssläktet
Thai
สกุล พรมออสเตรเลีย

Images from inaturalist.org observations:

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Fittonia
©albdiel, some rights reserved (CC-BY-NC)
Fittonia
©Amanda Daniela Moya, some rights reserved (CC-BY-NC)
Fittonia
©lykou03, some rights reserved (CC-BY-NC)
Fittonia
©sallyferg, some rights reserved (CC-BY-NC)
Fittonia
©Jo Westmaas, some rights reserved (CC-BY-NC)
Fittonia
©smgraziano, some rights reserved (CC-BY-NC)
Fittonia
©Soh Kam Yung, some rights reserved (CC-BY-NC)
Fittonia
©Soh Kam Yung, some rights reserved (CC-BY-NC)
Fittonia
©rloera, some rights reserved (CC-BY-NC)
Fittonia
©rloera, some rights reserved (CC-BY-NC)
Fittonia
©dynamic_earthteam, some rights reserved (CC-BY-NC)
Fittonia
©antevante, some rights reserved (CC-BY-NC)
Fittonia
©Ulises Infante, some rights reserved (CC-BY-NC)
Fittonia
©Cory Whitney, some rights reserved (CC-BY-NC)
Fittonia
©Gladys Hurtado, some rights reserved (CC-BY-NC)
Fittonia
©agbentley77, some rights reserved (CC-BY-NC)
Fittonia
©luisgustavoviteri, some rights reserved (CC-BY-NC)
Fittonia
©luisgustavoviteri, some rights reserved (CC-BY-NC)
Fittonia
©Ben G., some rights reserved (CC-BY-NC)
Fittonia
©Ben G., some rights reserved (CC-BY-NC)
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©Ben G., some rights reserved (CC-BY-NC)
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©Ben G., some rights reserved (CC-BY-NC)
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©Merav Vonshak, some rights reserved (CC-BY-NC)
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©Irene, some rights reserved (CC0)
Fittonia
©Irene, some rights reserved (CC0)
Fittonia
©Irene, some rights reserved (CC0)
Fittonia
©ttich, some rights reserved (CC-BY-NC)
Fittonia
©darryna, some rights reserved (CC-BY-NC)
Fittonia
©eggilmer, some rights reserved (CC-BY-NC)
Fittonia
©maggiemuskoka, some rights reserved (CC-BY-NC)
Fittonia
©ai21, some rights reserved (CC-BY-NC)
Fittonia
©Rony Ristow, some rights reserved (CC-BY-NC)
Fittonia
©irresponsibleplantmom, some rights reserved (CC-BY-NC)
Fittonia
©irresponsibleplantmom, some rights reserved (CC-BY-NC)
Fittonia
©irresponsibleplantmom, some rights reserved (CC-BY-NC)
Fittonia
©impriya25, some rights reserved (CC-BY-NC)
Fittonia
©skyearchitecture, some rights reserved (CC-BY-NC)
Fittonia
©annawutkiewicz11, some rights reserved (CC-BY-NC)
Fittonia
©Keith, some rights reserved (CC-BY-NC)
Fittonia
©Codrin Bucur, some rights reserved (CC-BY)
Fittonia
©gabrielasalazar11a, some rights reserved (CC-BY-NC)
Fittonia
©juanavalentina_polollanos10b, some rights reserved (CC-BY-NC)
Fittonia
©juanavalentina_polollanos10b, some rights reserved (CC-BY-NC)
Fittonia
©Luz Juliana Trujillo 10a, some rights reserved (CC-BY-NC)
Fittonia
©Luz Juliana Trujillo 10a, some rights reserved (CC-BY-NC)
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©Nuno Veríssimo P., some rights reserved (CC-BY-NC-SA)
Fittonia
©dinah4me, some rights reserved (CC-BY-NC)
Fittonia
©Daniel González, some rights reserved (CC-BY-NC)
Fittonia
©Maryelis Santamaria., some rights reserved (CC-BY-NC)
Fittonia
©Keylin Castillo, some rights reserved (CC-BY-NC)
Fittonia
©nishla, some rights reserved (CC-BY-NC)
Fittonia
©mfrancopinto2020fauedu, some rights reserved (CC-BY-NC)
Fittonia
©Pablo Maldonado, some rights reserved (CC-BY-NC)
Fittonia
©Jahir Sánchez, some rights reserved (CC-BY-NC)
Fittonia
©allisson_valle_q, some rights reserved (CC-BY-NC)
Fittonia
©JOHANNA MABEL MARTINEZ CUMBAL, some rights reserved (CC-BY-NC)
Fittonia
©chloecallihan, some rights reserved (CC-BY-NC)
Fittonia
©owliv, some rights reserved (CC-BY-NC)
Fittonia
©laure11374728, some rights reserved (CC-BY-NC)
Fittonia
©dodger93, some rights reserved (CC-BY-NC)
Fittonia
©Marina Maxfield, some rights reserved (CC-BY-NC)
Fittonia
©dora_d, some rights reserved (CC-BY-NC)
Fittonia
©Isa Osorio Berrío, some rights reserved (CC-BY-NC)
Fittonia
©mikaelaprice, some rights reserved (CC-BY-NC)
Fittonia
©wylankell, some rights reserved (CC-BY-NC)
Fittonia
©willowg235, some rights reserved (CC-BY-NC)
Fittonia
©Idlegrraphics, some rights reserved (CC-BY-NC-SA)
Fittonia
©danesda, some rights reserved (CC-BY-NC)
Fittonia
©megellis, some rights reserved (CC-BY-NC)
Fittonia
©Alejandro López, some rights reserved (CC-BY-NC-SA)
Fittonia
©lalydapriest, some rights reserved (CC-BY-NC)
Fittonia
©carogame, some rights reserved (CC-BY-NC)
Fittonia
©carogame, some rights reserved (CC-BY-NC)
Fittonia
©carogame, some rights reserved (CC-BY-NC)
Fittonia
©carogame, some rights reserved (CC-BY-NC)
Fittonia
©fiddlebugg, some rights reserved (CC-BY-NC)
Fittonia
©emmieliz02, some rights reserved (CC-BY-NC)
Fittonia
©steev59, some rights reserved (CC-BY-NC)
Fittonia
©katloaf, some rights reserved (CC-BY-NC)
Fittonia
©maryannrobledo, some rights reserved (CC-BY-NC)
Fittonia
©mgderderian, some rights reserved (CC-BY-NC)
Fittonia
©Gernot Richard Reichleitner, some rights reserved (CC-BY-NC)
Fittonia
©redryder74, some rights reserved (CC-BY-NC)
Fittonia
©chris_cline, some rights reserved (CC-BY-NC)
Fittonia
©eameliaa, some rights reserved (CC-BY-NC)
Fittonia
©stephaniehdz, some rights reserved (CC-BY-NC)
Fittonia
©Bolivar Pico FCE, some rights reserved (CC-BY-NC)
Fittonia
©thegteam, some rights reserved (CC-BY-NC)
Fittonia
©junglecatty, some rights reserved (CC-BY-NC)
Fittonia
©iriebutterfly, some rights reserved (CC-BY-NC)
Fittonia
©Elienai Candida e Silva, some rights reserved (CC-BY-NC)
Fittonia
©roseher, some rights reserved (CC-BY-NC)
Fittonia
©couwk, some rights reserved (CC-BY-NC)
Fittonia
©Andrés Ramírez-Barrera, some rights reserved (CC-BY)
Fittonia
©esj, some rights reserved (CC-BY-NC)
Fittonia
©brockgrubb, some rights reserved (CC-BY-NC)
Fittonia
©brockgrubb, some rights reserved (CC-BY-NC)
Fittonia
©ar-puente-rolon, some rights reserved (CC-BY-NC)
Fittonia
©jennyfurxo, some rights reserved (CC-BY-NC)
Fittonia
©jenwrenhall, some rights reserved (CC-BY-NC)
Fittonia
©tate_yawitz, some rights reserved (CC-BY-NC)
Fittonia
©keropee, some rights reserved (CC-BY-NC)
Fittonia
©Juliana Flórez, some rights reserved (CC-BY-NC)
Fittonia
©Pau Arranz Morell, some rights reserved (CC-BY-NC)
Fittonia
©spjames2018, some rights reserved (CC-BY-NC)
Fittonia
©ariadne16, some rights reserved (CC-BY-NC)
Fittonia
©konstantin2012, some rights reserved (CC-BY-NC)
Fittonia
©stinklebottom, some rights reserved (CC-BY-NC)
Fittonia
©chanelholt, some rights reserved (CC-BY-NC)
Fittonia
©yamell, some rights reserved (CC-BY-NC)
Fittonia
©Sidney Alves, some rights reserved (CC-BY-SA)
Fittonia
©Sidney Alves, some rights reserved (CC-BY-SA)
Fittonia
©devynt, some rights reserved (CC-BY-NC)
Fittonia
©dshelton, some rights reserved (CC-BY-NC)
Fittonia
©localwatermelon, some rights reserved (CC-BY-NC)
Fittonia
©Rosa Helena Marin, some rights reserved (CC-BY-NC)
Fittonia
©Rosa Helena Marin, some rights reserved (CC-BY-NC)
Fittonia
©clyde sonido, some rights reserved (CC-BY-NC)
Fittonia
©lnb346, some rights reserved (CC-BY-NC)
Fittonia
©Christian Schoen, some rights reserved (CC-BY-NC)
Fittonia
©tigerlily870, some rights reserved (CC-BY-NC)
Fittonia
©Ken-ichi Ueda, some rights reserved (CC-BY)
Fittonia
©egbrake, some rights reserved (CC-BY-NC)
Fittonia
©keenk, some rights reserved (CC-BY-NC)
Fittonia
©Jeremy, some rights reserved (CC-BY-NC)
Fittonia
©kyaozoe, some rights reserved (CC-BY-NC)
Fittonia
©Adriana Viveros, some rights reserved (CC-BY-NC)
Fittonia
©allieday10, some rights reserved (CC-BY-NC)
Fittonia
©stingray007, some rights reserved (CC-BY-NC)
Fittonia
©rachel-bender, some rights reserved (CC-BY-NC)
Fittonia
©christykrk, some rights reserved (CC-BY-NC)
Fittonia
©Marionne brioche, some rights reserved (CC-BY-NC)
Fittonia
©dittosis, some rights reserved (CC-BY-NC)
Fittonia
©happy2000, some rights reserved (CC-BY-NC)
Fittonia
©felixlin, some rights reserved (CC-BY-NC)
Fittonia
©unalii, some rights reserved (CC-BY-NC)
Fittonia
©unalii, some rights reserved (CC-BY-NC)
Fittonia
©swanvalery, some rights reserved (CC-BY-NC)
Fittonia
©barasshs-aerwinjann-tesoro-grade11, some rights reserved (CC-BY-NC)
Fittonia
©barasshs-aerwinjann-tesoro-grade11, some rights reserved (CC-BY-NC)
Fittonia
©barasshs-aerwinjann-tesoro-grade11, some rights reserved (CC-BY-NC)
Fittonia
©kallima, some rights reserved (CC-BY-NC)
Fittonia
©valbar, some rights reserved (CC-BY-NC)
Fittonia
©Rodrigo BD, some rights reserved (CC-BY-NC)
Fittonia
©Rodrigo BD, some rights reserved (CC-BY-NC)
Fittonia
©simplicidadymagia, some rights reserved (CC-BY-NC)
Fittonia
©shetripp, some rights reserved (CC-BY-NC)
Fittonia
©wooreb, some rights reserved (CC-BY-NC)
Fittonia
©Khong Shi Mun 147524, some rights reserved (CC-BY-NC)
Fittonia
©cutiecrawlersart, some rights reserved (CC-BY-NC)
Fittonia
©cutiecrawlersart, some rights reserved (CC-BY-NC)
Fittonia
©elizajiraffe, some rights reserved (CC-BY-NC)
Fittonia
©LiLian Wah, some rights reserved (CC-BY-NC)
Fittonia
©LiLian Wah, some rights reserved (CC-BY-NC)
Fittonia
©valen_o, some rights reserved (CC-BY-NC)
Fittonia
©Attiya Syafiqa, some rights reserved (CC-BY-NC)
Fittonia
©Marcio Santos Ferreira, some rights reserved (CC-BY-NC)
Fittonia
©ninamachova, some rights reserved (CC-BY-NC)
Fittonia
©kka_sha, some rights reserved (CC-BY-NC)
Fittonia
©soorajzaavi, some rights reserved (CC-BY-NC)