About Fittonia albivenis (Lindl. ex Veitch) Brummitt
Fittonia albivenis is a creeping evergreen perennial that grows to 15 cm (6 in) high. It has lush green, ovate leaves 7 to 10 cm long, with prominent veins ranging from white to deep pink, and its stems are covered in a short fuzz. Its flowers are small and colored white to off-white.
In cultivation, this species is grown as an ornamental plant, and requires fertile soil or a peat-based growing substrate. It grows best in a moist location with mild sunlight, though it does not need much light, and requires temperatures above 13 °C (55 °F). Because of this temperature requirement, it must be grown under glass as a houseplant in temperate regions, and needs regular watering. If left without water for a few days, this plant is known to wilt, or "faint", but can be easily revived by a quick watering and returns to full health. It is considered difficult to grow, so it is recommended to obtain an established plant from a nursery for cultivation. Its spreading growth habit makes it ideal for use as groundcover. Many cultivars have been selected, which fall into two cultivar groups: the Argyroneura Group (previously classified as F. argyroneura and F. verschaffeltii var. argyroneura) with silver to white veins, and the Verschaffeltii Group (previously classified as F. verschaffeltii) with pink to red veins. Both of these cultivar groups have earned the Royal Horticultural Society's Award of Garden Merit.
For traditional uses, the Kofan, Siona, and Secoya tribes of the Ecuadorian Amazon use F. albivenis to treat headaches and muscular pain. Before they were introduced to Psychotria viridis, the Machiguenga people used this species' leaves as a hallucinogen, which are said to "produce visions of eyeballs." In the northwestern Amazon region, leaves of this species are made into a tea to treat toothache.
