A Grammatical Dictionary of Botanical Latin

alternate, “placed on opposite sides of an axis on a different line, as in alternate leaves Placed between other bodies of the same or different whorls, as in an Umbellifer, where the stamens are alternate with, that is, between the petals” (Lindley); staggered on each side (two sides) of a stem, rather than exactly opposite each other, or whorled; placed singly or at different heights on the stem: alternus,-a,-um (adj.A), the thing to which something is alternate is in the dative case [> L. alter, altera, alterum (irregular adj.A), the other (of two)];

- folia in generibus lignosis saepe opposita, in herbaceis saepius alterna (B&H), leaves in woody genera often opposite, in herbaceous [sc. genera] more often alternate.

- stamina ananthera (staminodia) iis fertilibus alterna, stamens without anthers (staminodes) alternate to the fertile ones (Stearn 1983).

- folia alterna, leaves alternate.

- stamina aequalia vel inaequalia vel alterna longiora, the stamens equal or unequal or the laternate ones longer.

- foliolis proximalibus alternis (nec generaliter oppositis), with the proximal leaflets alternate (not generally opposite).

Alternanthera,-ae (s.f.I).

suboppositus,-a,-um (part.A + dat.): barely alternate and approaching opposite, as in leaves or pinnae.