Vivipary in Alternanthera littoralis var. maritima - first record for the Amaranthaceae

Abstract

This first record of vivipary in the Amaranthaceae is reported for the foredune plant Alternanthera littoralis var. maritima (July 2008, northern coast of Brazil). Vivipary is the precocious and uninterrupted growth of the seedlings while still attached to the maternal body. We propose a hypothesis for the viviparous germination of this species based on field observations. Our record adds new perspectives to the reproductive biology of the Amaranthaceae.