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A Manual of Water Plants
A Manual of Water Plants
A Manual of Water Plants
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A Manual of Water Plants

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This is a book on aquatic plants written in accessible language, so that anyone interested in water plants can acquire useful knowledge about them. As far as possible botanical language has been used sparingly, and then only when absolutely necessary. There are nearly half a million aquatic species in existence, and therefore it is impossible even to attempt to cover a small fraction of this in a single volume. Therefore a selection consisting of over 350 commonly known species has been described within, to kindle the interest of the plant enthusiast and give a flavour of this specialised subject area. For ease of identification,the text is accompanied by 150 line drawings and photographs.
LanguageEnglish
Release dateJan 9, 2014
ISBN9781491889282
A Manual of Water Plants
Author

W. Vivian De Thabrew

Born in Balapitiya, Sri Lanka, Vivian De Thabrew received his formal education at Royal College, Colombo, Sri Lanka, and obtained his first and postgraduate degrees in the UK. He has travelled in many Southeast Asian countries, such as Cambodia, India, Laos, Myanmar, Nepal, Thailand, and Vietnam, and has made a special study of Buddhist history, architecture, and the iconography of Buddhism. This interest and his knowledge of Pali and Sanskrit have also led him to produce an abridged translation and adaptation of stories from the “Dhammapada.”

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    A Manual of Water Plants - W. Vivian De Thabrew

    AuthorHouse™ UK Ltd.

    1663 Liberty Drive

    Bloomington, IN 47403 USA

    www.authorhouse.co.uk

    Phone: 0800.197.4150

    © 2014 W. Vivian De Thabrew. All rights reserved.

    No part of this book may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system, or transmitted by any means without the written permission of the author.

    Published by AuthorHouse 01/06/2014

    ISBN: 978-1-4918-8927-5 (sc)

    ISBN: 978-1-4918-8926-8 (hc)

    ISBN: 978-1-4918-8928-2 (e)

    Any people depicted in stock imagery provided by Thinkstock are models,

    and such images are being used for illustrative purposes only.

    Certain stock imagery © Thinkstock.

    Because of the dynamic nature of the Internet, any web addresses or links contained in this book may have changed since publication and may no longer be valid. The views expressed in this work are solely those of the author and do not necessarily reflect the views of the publisher, and the publisher hereby disclaims any responsibility for them.

    Contents

    Preface

    Acknowledgements

    Introduction

    Classification of Aquatic Plants

    Aquatic Plants

    Glossary

    Bibliography

    Dedication

    To my parents

    Preface

    The subject of aquatic plants is interesting in many respects. As opposed to terrestrial plants, aquatic plants normally begin their life in water and grow completely emersed or submersed. This is governed by the environmental conditions which they encounter. There are some species which adapt themselves to bog or marsh conditions. Species of both types are dealt with in this book. There are probably more than a million species of true and marginal aquatics in the plant world. Therefore it is impossible to cover even a fraction of these species in one single or even a series of treatises. However, we can get a glimpse of some of the better known species we encounter in our surroundings.

    This book is only an attempt to give those interested in aquatic flora some basic understanding of the subject, and I have attempted to include selected species from many regions. I have been fortunate enough to be able to observe some species in their natural habitats and also to receive live specimens from very knowledgeable plant collectors. These I have examined and studied, and recorded the information gleaned from them in my books on this subject. I have also noted and gratefully collected some information from authorities who have spent their working lives collecting material, carrying out field studies and disseminating their valuable knowledge.

    The names of plants follow the International Code of Botanical Nomenclature. The plants are categorised under five names these are: Family, Genus, Species, Variety and Form. Due to ongoing research, occasionally some genera are moved from their original family to another. Therefore it is necessary to be vigilant about the changing nature of the nomenclature. Common names vary from region to region.

    In this manual I have included the species which are found in my previous three books, with certain modifications. In no way do I claim this to be a definitive work on the subject. However, I hope that the reader will find this a useful manual with which to embark on an enjoyable and serious study of the subject.

    Acknowledgements

    My grateful thanks are due to Coral De Thabrew for editing my manuscript and processing all the material physically and electronically, without whose efforts this book would not have been possible.

    A special thanks to my publishing consultant Eugene Libres of Author House Publishers for giving his advice and full assistance in the process of the preparation of this book.

    My appreciative thanks are also due to the staff of Author House, Bloomington, Indiana, U.S.A., for all their guidance and work involved in producing this volume.

    Introduction

    Aquatic plants grow under varying conditions throughout the world. Most of them grow completely submerged and flower under water. Some root at the bottom and produce aerial leaves which float on the surface and flower above the surface. Some aquatic plants float on the surface forming thick blankets or colonies. These reproduce by means of spores which become plantlets attached to each other and multiply. These plants develop and spread so quickly that they block waterways and completely cover the surface areas of still waters, and hence fall into the category of troublesome pest weeds.

    Others grow in semi-aquatic conditions on bog-land or marshes. These are the marsh plants, which are capable of surviving underwater for short periods of time when their habitat is flooded due to heavy rains. As the water subsides, the emerse plants adapt themselves to terrestrial conditions for survival. The leaves become tough and often leathery and the stems robust and sturdy, capable of withstanding even conditions of drought.

    Like terrestrial plants, aquatic plants require the right ecological and environmental conditions for survival and regeneration. Climatic conditions, such as having sunlight and shade, temperature, rainfall and all other factors are of prime importance. The correct environmental combination of these has resulted in the establishment of regional zones of habitation. These regional zones can be clearly defined as Tropical, Sub-tropical and Temperate. Plants growing in one particular regional zone can, through seed, spore or vegetative dispersal spread to other zones; for example, the Echinodorus species endemic to South America, especially the Amazon region, has spread to the temperate regions of North America. However, there are some species which are strictly confined to their zones of origin, such as the Aponogeton and Cryptocoryne species, which are confined to Tropical Asia and Africa.

    Many species of aquatic plants have been introduced by man from their natural zones to alien ones, especially for the purpose of utilising them in ponds or aquaria. Some of these have therefore over the years established themselves or become naturalised and have even given rise to new strains with modified physiological characteristics, especially regarding reproductive behaviour.

    Aquatic habitats include ponds, lakes, rivers, water-courses, ditches and stagnant water areas. These can be natural or man-made. Within these habitats the water-level and the nutrient content found at the bottom determine the favourable conditions suitable for the varying species.

    Most plants grow on the muddy bottom and develop dense rosettes and multiply by means of underground stolons, thus colonising vast areas. Flowering also occurs submerged. Others grow at the bottom pushing forth aerial leaves which float on the surface, producing flowers above the water.

    Another group of plants roots at the bottom but develops all the leaves on the water-surface. These multiply very rapidly and cover vast areas of the habitat. Plants belonging to the next group simply float freely on the surface. Species like Azolla, Lemna, Eichornia and Salvinia spread so rapidly that they completely block water-courses, rivers, ponds and lakes. For this very reason they are considered as pest weeds, and their control is constantly being carried out by the affected countries.

    All these aquatic plants require various nutritional levels and conditions which are prevalent in their habitats. It should be noted that a considerable number of plant species are used for aquaria, ponds and ornamental features throughout the world.

    Classification of Aquatic Plants

    Acanthaceae

    Dianthera americana

    Hygrophila angustifolia

    Hygrophila difformis

    Hygrophila polysperma

    Hygrophila salicifolia

    Nomaphila stricta

    Synnema triflorum

    Acoraceae (Araceae)

    Acorus calamus var. angustifolius

    Acorus calamus var. foliis variegatis

    Acorus calamus var. pusillus

    Acorus gramineus var. foliis variegatis

    Alismataceae

    Alisma gramineum

    Alisma gramineum var. submersum

    Alisma natans

    Alisma plantago aquatica

    Alisma ranunculoides var. repens

    Caldesia oligococea

    Caldesia parnassifolia

    Echinodorus amazonicus

    Echinodorus amphibius

    Echinodorus andrieuxii

    Echinodorus angustifolius

    Echinodorus austroamericanus

    Echinodorus berteroi

    Echinodorus bleherii

    Echinodorus bracteatus

    Echinodorus brevipedicellatus

    Echinodorus cordifolius

    Echinodorus fluitans

    Echinodorus grisebachii

    Echinodorus horemanii

    Echinodorus intermedius

    Echinodorus isthmicus

    Echinodorus latifolius

    Echinodorus longistylis

    Echinodorus magdalensis

    Echinodorus major

    Echinodorus martii

    Echinodorus muricatus

    Echinodorus nymphaefolius

    Echinodorus opacus

    Echinodorus paniculatus

    Echinodorus parvifolius

    Echinodorus portoalegrensis

    Echinodorus quadricostatus

    Echinodorus radicans

    Echinodorus ranunculoides

    Echinodorus ridleyi

    Echinodorus tenellus

    Echinodorus trialatus

    Echinodorus tunicatus

    Echinodorus uruguayensis

    Hydrocleis nymphoides

    Limnocharis flava

    Limnophyton obtusifolium

    Sagittaria eatonii

    Sagittaria engelmanniana

    Sagittaria filiformis

    Sagittaria graminea

    Sagittaria guayanensis

    Sagittaria isoetiformis

    Sagittaria lancifolia

    Sagittaria latifolia

    Sagittaria longiloba

    Sagittaria macrophylla

    Sagittaria montevidensis

    Sagittaria natans

    Sagittaria papillosa

    Sagittaria platyphylla

    Sagittaria sagittifolia

    Sagittaria subulata

    Sagittaria teres

    Amaranthaceae

    Alternanthera philoxeroides

    Alternanthera rubra

    Alternanthera sessilis

    Amaryllidaceae

    Crinum natans

    Crinum purpurescens

    Aponogetonaceae

    Aponogeton bernieranus

    Aponogeton crispus

    Aponogeton distachyus

    Aponogeton echinatus

    Aponogeton elongatus

    Aponogeton fenestralis

    Aponogeton henkelianus

    Aponogeton leptostachyus

    Aponogeton loriae

    Aponogeton natans

    Aponogeton rigidifolius

    Aponogeton ulvaceus

    Aponogeton undulatus

    Araceae

    Anubias congensis

    Anubias lanceolata

    Anubias nana

    Calla palustris

    Cryptocoryne affinis

    Cryptocoryne balansae

    Cryptocoryne beckettii

    Cryptocoryne blassii

    Cryptocoryne ciliata

    Cryptocoryne cordata

    Cryptocoryne costata

    Cryptocoryne griffithii

    Cryptocoryne johorensis

    Cryptocoryne legroi

    Cryptocoryne longicauda

    Cryptocoryne lucens

    Cryptocoryne lutea

    Cryptocoryne nevillii

    Cryptocoryne parva

    Cryptocoryne petchii

    Cryptocoryne purpurea

    Cryptocoryne retrospiralis

    Cryptocoryne spiralis

    Cryptocoryne thwaitesii

    Cryptocoryne undulata

    Cryptocoryne versteegii

    Cryptocoryne walkerii

    Cryptocoryne wendtii

    Cryptocoryne willisii

    Lagenandra lancifolia

    Lagenandra ovata

    Lagenandra thwaitesii

    Lemna gibba

    Lemna minor

    Lemna paucicostata

    Lemna trisulca

    Orontium aquaticum

    Pistia stratiotes

    Wolffia arrhiza

    Wolffiella floridana

    Wolffia microscopica

    Araliaceae (Umbelliferae)

    Hydrocotyle leucocephalis

    Hydrocotyle sibthorpiodes

    Hydrocotyle verticillata

    Hydrocotyle vulgaris

    Boraginaceae

    Myosotis palustris

    Myosotis scorpiodes

    Cabombaceae

    Brasenia schreberi

    Cabomba aquatica

    Cabomba australis

    Cabomba caroliniana

    Cabomba caroliniana var. paucipartita

    Cabomba caroliniana var. pulcherrima

    Ceratophyllaceae

    Ceratophyllum demersum

    Ceratophyllum echinatum

    Ceratophyllum submersum

    Characeae

    Nitella capillaris

    Nitella flexilis

    Nitella gracilis

    Nitella opaca

    Crassulaceae

    Crassula aquatica

    Crassula recurva

    Cruciferaceae

    Cardamine hirsuta

    Cardamine lyrata

    Rorippa amphibia

    Rorippa aquatica

    Subularia aquatica

    Cyperaceae

    Eleogiton fluitans

    Eleocharis acicularis

    Eleocharis dulcis

    Eleocharis parvula

    Eleocharis vivipara

    Droseraceae

    Aldrovanda vesiculosa

    Elatinaceae

    Elatine alsinastrum

    Elatine hydropiper

    Elatine macrocarpa

    Elatine triandra

    Fontinalaceae

    Fontinalis antipyretica

    Gentianaceae See Menyanthaceae

    Haloragaceae

    Laurembergia coccinea

    Myriophyllum alternifolium

    Myriophyllum brasiliense

    Myriophyllum elationoides

    Myriophyllum heterophyllum

    Myriophyllum hippuroides

    Myriophyllum indicum

    Myriophyllum oguraeme

    Myriophyllum scabratum

    Myriophyllum spicatum

    Myriophyllum ussuriense

    Myriophyllum verticillatum

    Proserpinaca palustris

    Hydrocharitaceae

    Blyxa echinosperma

    Blyxa octandra

    Blyxa oryzetorum

    Blyxa radicans

    Elodea callitrichoides

    Elodea canadensis

    Elodea densa

    Elodea nuttallii

    Elodea occidentalis

    Hydrocharis morsus-ranae

    Hydrilla verticillata

    Lagarasiphon madagascariensis

    Lagarasiphon major

    Lagarasiphon muscoides

    Limnobium laevigatum

    Limnobium spongia

    Limnobium stoloniferum

    Najas baldwinii

    Najas falciculata

    Najas flexilis

    Najas graminea

    Najas kingii

    Najas liberiense

    Najas marina

    Najas microdon

    Najas minor

    Nechamandra alternifolia

    Ottelia alismoides

    Ottelia ulvaefolia

    Stratiotes aloides

    Vallisneria americana

    Vallisneria asiatica

    Vallisneria gigantea

    Vallisneria neotropicalis

    Vallisneria spiralis

    Hydroleaceae (Hydrophyllaceae)

    Hydrocera triflora

    Hydrolea zeylanica

    Hypnaceae

    Vesicularia dubyana

    Isoetaceae

    Isoetes echinosperma

    Isoetes lacustris

    Isoetes malinverniana

    Isoetes setacea

    Isoetes velata

    Labiatae

    Mentha aquatica

    Leguminosae

    Neptunia oleracea

    Lentibulariaceae

    Utricularia exoleta

    Utricularia intermedia

    Utricularia minor

    Utricularia vulgaris

    Leptodictyaceae

    Leptodictyum riparium

    Lobeliaceae

    Lobelia cardinalis

    Lobelia dortmanna

    Lobelia zeylanica

    Lycopodiaceae

    Lycopodium inundatum

    Lythraceae

    Lythrum salicaria

    Peplis diandra

    Rotala indica

    Rotala wallichii

    Trapa bicornis

    Trapa bispinosa

    Trapa natans

    Marsileaceae

    Marsilea crenata

    Marsilea drummondii

    Marsilea hirsuta

    Marsilea pubescens

    Marsilea quadrifolia

    Pilularia globulifera

    Pilularia minuta

    Mayaceae

    Mayaca fluviatilis

    Mayaca vandellii

    Menyanthaceae (Gentianaceae)

    Nymphoides aquatica

    Nymphoides aurantiacum

    Nymphoides cordatum

    Nymphoides humboldtiana

    Nymphoides indicum

    Nymphoides parvifolium

    Nymphoides peltata

    Nelumbonaceae

    Nelumbium nucifera

    Nymphaeaceae

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