Hydrocharitaceae
Read about Hydrocharitaceae in the Standard Cyclopedia of Horticulture
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Hydrocharitaceae (from the genus Hydrocharis, derived from the Greek meaning water and rejoice). Frog's-bit Family. Fig. 7. Submerged aquatic herbs, rarely floating, the flowers usually at first inclosed by a 2-bracted spathe: leaves alternate or opposite, very diverse, cordate, linear or ribbon-like: flowers usually unisexual, regular, epigynous; perianth in 2 series, composed of 3 imbricated or valvate, calicoid parts, and 3 convolute petaloid parts, rarely of only 3 divisions; stamens in 1 to several series of 3, some often staminodia; carpels 2-15; ovary inferior, 1-celled with parietal placenta, or imperfectly several-celled; stigmas 3-6: fruit not regularly dehiscent, submerged, somewhat fleshy; seeds many, exalbuminous. There are 14 genera and about 40 species widely distributed. The family is related to the Alismaceae and Naiadaceae. The differentiation into calyx and corolla, the usually numerous stamens, the inferior, 1-celled ovary with parietal placentae, and the exalbuminous seeds are together characteristic. The plants of this family are very diverse in appearance and often striking. Fossil species are known. The pollination of Vallisneria is very remarkable. (See Kerner and Oliver, "Natural History of Plants"). Elodea canadensis, introduced into Europe from America, has there become so abundant as to impede navigation. The plants of Hydrocharis, Stratiotes, and Elodea are used as fodder and as manure in Europe. The starchy rootstocks of Ottelia and Boottia are eaten in India as pot-herbs; also the tubers and fruits of Enalus. The fibers from the leaves of Enalus are used in India. Vallisneria alternifolia is employed in India in the preparation of sugar. Five genera are in cultivation in America, mostly for aquaria: Elodea (Waterweed, Ditch-Moss, Water Thyme, Water Pest); Hydrocharis (Frog's-Bit); Limnobium (American Frog's-Bit); Stratiotes (Water Soldier, Water Aloe); Vallisneria (Eel-Grass, Tape-Grass).CH
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References
- Standard Cyclopedia of Horticulture, by L. H. Bailey, MacMillan Co., 1963
External links
- w:Hydrocharitaceae. Some of the material on this page may be from Wikipedia, under the Creative Commons license.
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