Home | > | List of families | > | Hydrocharitaceae | > | Lagarosiphon | > | major |
Synonyms: |
Elodea crispa hort. Lagarosiphon muscoides Harv. var. major Ridl. |
Common names: | African elodea (English) Curly waterweed (English) Oxygen weed (English) |
Frequency: | |
Status: | Native |
Description: |
Stems thick, up to 3 mm in diameter; leaves 6.5-25 × 2-4.4 mm, alternate, occasionally whorled, spreading or recurved, thick, mostly opaque; apex usually obtuse. Epidermal cells mainly equal-sided; margins with 2 rows of sclerenchyma fibres, almost translucent, each side with 50-100 teeth; leaf teeth relatively short, blunt, pointing upwards and not borne on protuberances; central area narrow, without sclerenchyma fibres. Male inflorescence a spathe with c. 50 flower buds; spathe valves ovate; male perianth pinkish. Female inflorescence with ovate to narrowly ovate spathe valves; female flower with pinkish perianth. Capsule ovoid to narrowly ovoid, tapered above. |
Notes: | |
Derivation of specific name: | major: larger, greater, bigger |
Habitat: | Dams and lakes |
Altitude range: (metres) | 900 - 2000 m |
Flowering time: | |
Worldwide distribution: | South Africa, where it is said to be native; elsewhere a troublesome weed, especially in Europe and New Zealand. |
Zimbabwe distribution: | W,C,E |
Growth form(s): | Aquatic. |
Endemic status: | |
Red data list status: | |
Insects associated with this species: | |
Spot characters: | Display spot characters for this species |
Images last updated: | Wednesday 6 September 2017 |
Literature: |
Chapano, C. & Mugarisanwa, N.H. (2003). Plants of the Matobo District National Herbarium and Botanic Garden, Zimbabwe Page 23. Mapaura, A. & Timberlake, J. (eds) (2004). A checklist of Zimbabwean vascular plants Southern African Botanical Diversity Network Report No. 33 Sabonet, Pretoria and Harare Page 91. Symoens, J.J. (2009). Hydrocharitaceae Flora Zambesiaca 12(2) Pages 24 - 25. |
Home | > | List of families | > | Hydrocharitaceae | > | Lagarosiphon | > | major |