Aerva is a genus of plants in the family Amaranthaceae. Its species are native to the palaeotropics, throughout continental Africa, Madagascar and smaller islands (Mauritius and Socotra), through parts of the Middle East, India, and southeast Asia. Aerva javanica is an alien in northern Australia.
At least four species in the genus have acquired the C4 carbon fixation pathway.
Species
Six species are accepted.
Aerva javanica (Burm.f.) Juss. ex Schult. – northern and eastern Africa, Madagascar, Arabian Peninsula and west Asia, Indian subcontinent, and Myanmar
Aerva madagassica Suess. – Madagascar
Aerva radicans Mart. – India
Aerva sericea Moq. – Hawaiian Islands (extinct)
Aerva villosa Moq. – Mauritius
Aerva wightii Hook.f. – India
Nothosaerva brachiata (L.) Wight (as Aerva brachiata (L.) Mart.)
Ouret congesta (Balf.f. ex Baker) Kuntze (as Aerva congesta Balf.f. ex Baker)
Ouret lanata (L.) Kuntze (as Aerva lanata (L.) Juss. ex Schult.)
Paraerva microphylla (as Aerva microphylla Moq.)
Paraerva revoluta (as Aerva revoluta Balf.f.)
Wadithamnus artemisioides (Vierh. & O.Schwartz) T.Hammer & R.W.Davis (as Aerva artemisioides Vierh. & O.Schwartz)
Formerly placed here
Nothosaerva brachiata (L.) Wight (as Aerva brachiata (L.) Mart.)
Ouret congesta (Balf.f. ex Baker) Kuntze (as Aerva congesta Balf.f. ex Baker)
Ouret lanata (L.) Kuntze (as Aerva lanata (L.) Juss. ex Schult.)
Paraerva microphylla (as Aerva microphylla Moq.)
Paraerva revoluta (as Aerva revoluta Balf.f.)
Wadithamnus artemisioides (Vierh. & O.Schwartz) T.Hammer & R.W.Davis (as Aerva artemisioides Vierh. & O.Schwartz)
