What is "fittonia"

Fittonia (nerve plant) is a genus of flowering plants in the family Acanthaceae, native to tropical rainforest in South America, mainly Peru.

The most commonly grown are F. albivenis and its cultivars. They are spreading evergreen perennials growing tall. They bear lush green leaves with accented veins of white to deep pink and have a short fuzz covering their stems. Small buds may appear after time where the stem splits into leaves. Flowers are small with a white to off-white colour. Plants are best kept in a moist area with mild sunlight and temperatures above , therefore in temperate areas they must be grown as houseplants. Without water for a few days, this plant is known to "faint" but is easily revived with a quick watering and resumes its healthiness. Its spreading habit makes it ideal as groundcover.