Species Stratiotes aloides Higher classification Hydrocharitaceae | Subfamily Stratiotoideae Scientific name Stratiotes Rank Genus | |
Similar Hydrocharitaceae, Hydrocharis, Hydrocharis morsus‑ranae, Ottelia, Salvinia | ||
Pistia stratiotes or jalkumbhi plant in river ganga
Stratiotes is a genus of submerged aquatic plant commonly known as water soldiers, described as a genus by Linnaeus in 1753. Several specific names have been coined within the genus, but at present only one is recognized: Stratiotes aloides, native to Europe and NW Asia.
Contents
- Pistia stratiotes or jalkumbhi plant in river ganga
- Water lettuce pistia stratiotes
- Description
- Ecology
- Uses
- References
moved to other genera: Enhalus Hydrocleys Ottelia
- Stratiotes acoroides - Enhalus acoroides
- Stratiotes alismoides - Ottelia alismoides
- Stratiotes nymphoides - Hydrocleys nymphoides
- Stratiotes quinquealatus - Ottelia alismoides
Water lettuce pistia stratiotes
Description
The leaves are serrate and very brittle, breaking easily when handled. Reproduction is generally by offsets, which may number 5 or more per plant. In the UK, male plants have rarely if ever been recorded, although some hermaphrodite flowers have been recorded from more southerly locations. Sexual reproduction is not known to occur. A characteristic of the genus is the habit of the plants rising to the surface at flowering time.
Ecology
The plant appears to be associated with calcareous waters and there is a suggestion that changing levels of calcium carbonate on the leaves may explain the floating and submerging behaviour.
The rare dragonfly, the Norfolk hawker (Aeshna isosceles), relies on the presence of Stratiotes aloides as a food source for the smaller insects on which it feeds. They are very winter hardy
Uses
Stratiotes aloides is commonly used in cool water ponds and aquariums in Europe
