3151.010 Inversodicraea Engl. ex R.E.Fr.

Submerged freshwater herbs; basal part thalloid, foliaceous, ± deeply divided or ribbon-like, bearing buds on the surface or margins from which shoots arise; shoots with well developed, usually branched stems. Leaves filamentous or reduced and scale-like, usually divided, densely arranged or scattered; scale-like leaves variable, borne throughout the length of the stems and branches or only on the flowering branches. Flowers solitary and apical on branches, also in the angles of the uppermost branches. Tepals 2, linear or filiform, one on each side of the andropodium. Fruit an ovoid to ellipsoid capsule, usually 8-ribbed, splitting into 2 equal carpels, the suture occurring along 2 of the ribs. Seeds small, reddish-brown to blackish, ellipsoid.

Comment: The genus description follows Cusset (1997) in Flora Zambesiaca 9(2) where Inversodicraea was included under Ledermanniella so it may not be entirely correct and include some characteristics unique to the latter genus which is still known from species in West and Central Africa.

Worldwide: 35 species in tropical Africa.

Zimbabwe: 1 taxon.