Plant · GBIF taxon 5574508
Nerve Plant
Fittonia albivenisAlso known as Mosaic Plant, Silver Nerve Plant, Painted Net Leaf
Spreading across the humid forest floors of tropical South America, nerve plant forms dense mats of evergreen foliage decorated with intricate, net-like veins. Leaves range from deep green with stark white netting to bright pink and crimson patterns that maximize light capture beneath dense canopy shadows. When soil moisture drops, stems dramatically collapse to signal severe thirst, springing back upright within hours once water is restored.
EvergreenTropicalRainforest Floor
—observations
—countries
—peak records
Not EvaluatedConservation statusIUCN Red List categoriesLCNTVUENCREWEXNot Evaluated — not placed on the risk ladderRed List categories, explained →
Diet & prey
- Autotrophic
Predators
- Snails
- Slugs
- Caterpillars
ThreatsHabitat loss from deforestation
HabitatsTropical rainforest understory, cloud forests
Life span5 to 10+ years
Size / weightNot available
Classification
- FamilyAcanthaceae
- SpeciesFittonia albivenis
Range data is not available yet.
Interaction riskLow
- Low
- Moderate
- High
- Very high
- Why interaction risk is low
- Safe to observe at a normal distance.
Responsible observation
- Humidity Care: Maintain high ambient moisture or grow in terrariums to prevent leaves from crisping.
- Light Needs: Place in bright indirect light to preserve the vibrant contrast of leaf venation.
- Watering Signals: Water thoroughly when the soil surface dries, taking action if stems wilt.
Close Relative 
Family Member no rights reserved, uploaded by 葉子 · cc0Family Member 
Family Member (c) Pablo Cauã da Silva Toledo, some rights reserved (CC BY) · cc-by
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