Gen info
- Acanthaceae is one of the most diverse families of flowering plants consisting of 4,300 species in 346 genera.
- Fittonia is a genus of evergreen perennial flowering plants in the acanthus (bear's britches) family, Acanthaceae. The most common cultivated species is Fittonia albivenis and its range of cultivars. (2)
- Its many cultivars fall into two cultivar groups: the Argyroneura Group with silver to white veins, and the Verschaffeltii Group with pink to red veins. Both have been granted the Royal Horticultural Society's Award of Garden Merit. (2)
- Etymology: The genus Fittonia was named by Belgian botanist Eugene Coemans in 1865. (•) The genus name Fittonia honors Elizabeth and Sarah Mary Fitton, 19th century authors of "Conservations on Botany". The specific epithet albivenis means 'white veined', referring to the white-veined species form. The group name is named after Belgian nurseryman, botanical author and artist, Ambriose C.A.Verschaffelt (1825-1886). (3)

Botany
• Fittonia albivenis is a creeping evergreen perennial growing to 15 cm (6 in) high, with lush green,  ovate leaves, 7 to 10 cm long, with accented veins of white to deep pink and a short fuzz covering its stems. Flowers are small with a white to off-white color. (2)

Distribution
- Introduced.
- Ornamental cultivation.
- Native to Bolivia, Brazil North, Colombia, Ecuador, Peru, Venezuela. (1)

Constituents
- Study for total content of bioactive substances (flavonoids and phenolis) was about 0.2-0.45% of dry weight, significantly less than amount in known sources of polyphenols (e.g.,  ground coffee). There were significant differences between invivo growing plants with dark-green and light-green leaves. (4)

Properties
- In temperate regions where the temperature falls below 10°C (50°F), it must be grown as a housplant. It requires regular watering. Without water for a few days, it is known to "faint", but is easily revived with quick watering to resume its healthiness.  (2)

Parts used
Aerial parts, whole plant.

Uses
Edibility
- No reports on culinary edibility.
- Decoction and infusion of leaves used for various maladies.
Folkloric
- No reported folkloric medicinal use in the Philippines.
- The Kofan, Siona and Secoya tribes of the Ecuadorian Amazon used the plant for treatment of headaches, urinary pains, and muscular pains. Leaves prepared as tea used in the northwestern Amazon region for treatment of toothache. (2)
- Aerial parts of F. albivenis in combination with Tabernaemontana sananho used for treatment of snakebites. Aerial parts also used in Peruvian Amazon as antidiarrheal for children. Decoctions or infusions of whole plant used for toothaches and as mouth rinse.   (4)
- In the Amazonian Ecuador, used for treatment of liver ailments.
Others
- Agroforestry: It's spreading habit makes for an ideal groundcover. (2)
- Hallucinogen: Leaves have be used by Machiguenga as a hallucinogen prior to the use of Psychotria viridis. It is said to produce "visions of eyeballs". (2)
- Air-purifying: As an indoor plant, F. albivensis was screened for its ability to removed important VOCs, and was found to have superior benzene, toluene, and trichloroethylene removal efficiency.

Studies
• Understudied plant.

Availability
Wild-crafted.
Seeds, plants in the cybermarket.

Additional Sources and Suggested Readings
(1)
Fitonia albivenis / KEW: Plants of the World Online
(2)
Fitonia albivenis / Wikipedia
(3)
Fitonia albivenis (Verschaffeltii Group) / National Parks: FLORA & FAUNA WEB
(4)
In Vitro Culture and Some Biochemical Characteristics of Fittonia albivensis (Lindl. ex Veitch) Brummit / Belokurova Valeriia, Lystvan Kateryna, Kuchuk Mykola et al / AGROBIODIVERSITY, 2019 /
DOI: 10.15414/agrobiodiversity.2019.2585-8246.186-194

DOI: It is not uncommon for links on studies/sources to change. Copying and pasting the information on the search window or using the DOI (if available) will often redirect to the new link page. (Citing and Using a (DOI) Digital Object Identifier)