Fittonia

Classification System: APG IV

Superregnum: Eukaryota
Regnum: Plantae
Cladus: Angiosperms
Cladus: Eudicots
Cladus: Core eudicots
Cladus: Asterids
Cladus: Lamiids
Ordo: Lamiales

Familia: Acanthaceae
Subfamilia: Acanthoideae
Tribus: Justicieae
Genus: Fittonia
Species: F. albivenis – F. gigantea
Source(s) of checklist:

Govaerts, R. et al. 2020. Fittonia in Kew Science Plants of the World online. The Board of Trustees of the Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew. Published on the internet. Accessed: 2020 Nov 27. Reference page.

Name

Fittonia Coem., Fl. Serres Jard. Eur. 15: 185. 1865, nom. cons.
Type species: Fittonia verschaffeltii (Lem.) Van Houtte

Synonyms

Heterotypic
Adelaster Lindl. ex Veitch, Gard. Chron. 1861: 499, 1861, nom. rej.

References

Coemans, H.E.L.G., (1865) Fl. Serres Jard. Eur. 15: 185.

Links

Hassler, M. 2021. Fittonia. World Plants: Synonymic Checklists of the Vascular Plants of the World In: Roskovh, Y., Abucay, L., Orrell, T., Nicolson, D., Bailly, N., Kirk, P., Bourgoin, T., DeWalt, R.E., Decock, W., De Wever, A., Nieukerken, E. van, Zarucchi, J. & Penev, L., eds. 2021. Species 2000 & ITIS Catalogue of Life. Published on the internet. Accessed: 2021 Jan. 11. Reference page.
International Plant Names Index. 2018. Fittonia. Published online. Accessed: Jun. 11 2018.
Govaerts, R. et al. 2021. Fittonia in Kew Science Plants of the World online. The Board of Trustees of the Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew. Published on the internet. Accessed: 2021 Jan. 11. Reference page.
Tropicos.org 2018. Fittonia. Missouri Botanical Garden. Published on the internet. Accessed: 2018 Jun. 11.

Vernacular names
English: Nerve Plant
suomi: Pitsilehdet

Fittonia (nerve plant) is a genus of flowering plants in the acanthus family Acanthaceae, native to tropical rainforest in South America, mainly Peru.[2]

The most commonly grown are F. albivenis and its cultivars. They are spreading evergreen perennials growing 10–15 cm (4–6 in) tall. They bear lush green leaves with accented veins of white to deep pink and have a short fuzz covering their stems. Small buds may appear after a time where the stem splits into leaves. Flowers are small with a white to off-white colour. Plants are best kept in a moist area with mild sunlight and temperatures above 55 °F (13 °C), therefore in temperate areas they must be grown as houseplants. Without water for a few days, this plant is known to "faint" but is easily revived with a quick watering. Its spreading habit makes it ideal as groundcover.
Species

Fittonia albivenis
Fittonia gigantea

References

"Fittonia information from NPGS/GRIN". www.ars-grin.gov. Archived from the original on 2012-08-29. Retrieved 2008-02-25.
RHS A-Z encyclopedia of garden plants. United Kingdom: Dorling Kindersley. 2008. p. 1136. ISBN 978-1405332965.