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The aquatic plant '''''Heteranthera limosa''''' is a member of the [[Pontederiaceae|water hyacinth family]] known by the common names '''ducksalad''' and '''blue mudplantain'''. It is considered a threatened species in parts of the central United States, and an [[invasive species]] weed in California, where it is a nuisance in [[Paddy field|rice paddies]]. It is also occasional in Florida waterways.
'''''Heteranthera limosa''''' is an annual flowering plant in the [[Pontederiaceae|water hyacinth family]] known by the common names '''ducksalad''' and '''blue mudplantain'''. It grows in shallow water or on mud. It is considered a threatened species in parts of the central United States, and an [[invasive species]] weed in California, where it is a nuisance in [[Paddy field|rice paddies]]. It is also occasional in Florida waterways.


==Description==
==Description==
''Heteranthera limosa'' is polymorphic annual, looking different depending on the type of habitat it is growing in; plants in water look different than those growing on moist ground. The plant has thick, spade-shaped green leaves with parallel veins. When plants are grown in water the leaves may be above or below the water surface, with submerged leaves linear in shape.<ref>{{Cite web|title=Heteranthera limosa (Sw.) Willd.|url=http://www.worldfloraonline.org/taxon/wfo-0000441523#description|access-date=2021-01-16|website=www.worldfloraonline.org|language=en}}</ref> Its blue or purple, perfect flowers, are six-[[Merosity|merouse]] with narrow petals and three stamens. The flowers are subtended by a [[Bract|spathe]]. The flowering period is very brief subject to the correct environmental conditions.<ref name="CoffinPfannmuller1988"/> The diploid chromosome count is 14.
''Heteranthera limosa'' is a polymorphic annual growing 2 to 6 inches tall. It looks different depending on the type of habitat it is growing in; plants in water look different than those growing on muddy ground. It is easily confused with other closely related species, so reliable identification is based on flowering plants.<ref name="MN">{{Cite web|title=Heteranthera limosa : Mud Plantain {{!}} Rare Species Guide|url=https://www.dnr.state.mn.us/rsg/profile.html?action=elementDetail&selectedElement=PMPON03030|access-date=2021-01-16|website=Minnesota Department of Natural Resources|language=en}}</ref> It has thick, spade-shaped green leaves with parallel veins. When plants are grown in water the leaves may be above or below the water surface, with submerged leaves linear in shape.<ref>{{Cite web|title=Heteranthera limosa (Sw.) Willd.|url=http://www.worldfloraonline.org/taxon/wfo-0000441523#description|access-date=2021-01-16|website=www.worldfloraonline.org|language=en}}</ref> The branching stems are creeping and maybe as long as 15 inches, rooting at the nodes.<ref name="Wildflowers"/> Its blue, purple, or white, perfect flowers, are six-[[Merosity|merouse]] with narrow petals and three stamens. The nearly 1 inch wide flowers are subtended by a [[Bract|spathe]].<ref name="Wildflowers"/> The flowering period is very brief subject to the correct environmental conditions,<ref name="CoffinPfannmuller1988"/> and can occur from May to November. The flowers open early in the morning and wither by noon.<ref name="Wildflowers">{{Cite web|title=Heteranthera limosa (Blue Mud Plantain): Minnesota Wildflowers|url=https://www.minnesotawildflowers.info/flower/blue-mud-plantain|access-date=2021-01-16|website=www.minnesotawildflowers.info|language=en}}</ref>


==Distribution and habitat==
These petals may be ground into a paste that is similar to aloe vera, soothing to wounds and burns. The paste does however have mild neurotoxicity in large quantities that are negligible in small wound applications.{{Citation needed}}
''Heteranthera limosa'' grows in shallow water with the best growth in water that is less than 5cm deep; it is also found immersed at pond edges and in roadside ditches.<ref name="FNA"/> It is found growing in Arizona, Arkansas, California, Colorado, Florida, Illinois, Iowa, Kansas, Kentucky, Louisiana, Mississippi, Missouri, Nebraska, New Mexico, Oklahoma, South Dakota, Tennessee, Texas, Mexico, West Indies, Central America, and South America (Argentina, Bolivia, Brazil, Colombia, Ecuador, Paraguay, Venezuela).<ref name="FNA">{{Cite web|title=Heteranthera limosa in Flora of North America @ efloras.org|url=http://www.efloras.org/florataxon.aspx?flora_id=1&taxon_id=242101660|access-date=2021-01-16|website=www.efloras.org}}</ref>


⚫
In Minnesota this species is at the northern limit of its natural distribution where it is found in the southwestern corner of the state, it occurs in shallow vernal pools that form from water that seeps between rock layers that includes [[Sioux Quartzite|Sioux quartzite]]; it is found in association with other rare species in the state such as ''[[Isoetes melanopoda]]'', ''[[Plantago elongata]]'', and ''[[Cyperus acuminatus]]''.<ref name="CoffinPfannmuller1988">{{cite book|author1=Barbara Coffin|author2=Lee Pfannmuller|title=Minnesota's Endangered Flora and Fauna|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=wfWNq91AjeoC|year=1988|publisher=U of Minnesota Press|isbn=978-0-8166-1689-3|page=100}}</ref> In Minnesota it is listed as a threatened species, where it is rare and limited to specific unusual microhabitats.<ref name="MN"/>
==Habitat and distribution==
⚫
In Minnesota this species is at the norther limit of its natural distribution where it is found in the south western corner of the state, it occurs in shallow vernal pools that form from water that seeps between rock layers that includes [[Sioux Quartzite|Sioux quartzite]]; it is found in association with other rare species in the state such as ''[[Isoetes melanopoda]]'', ''[[Plantago elongata]]'', and ''[[Cyperus acuminatus]]''.<ref name="CoffinPfannmuller1988">{{cite book|author1=Barbara Coffin|author2=Lee Pfannmuller|title=Minnesota's Endangered Flora and Fauna|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=wfWNq91AjeoC|year=1988|publisher=U of Minnesota Press|isbn=978-0-8166-1689-3|page=100}}</ref>


== References ==
== References ==
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[[Category:Freshwater plants]]
[[Category:Freshwater plants]]
[[Category:Flora of the United States]]
[[Category:Flora of the United States]]
[[Category:Invasive plant species in Japan]]
{{Commelinales-stub}}
{{Commelinales-stub}}

Latest revision as of 23:39, 28 February 2022

Heteranthera limosa
Heteranthera limosa
Scientific classification Edit this classification
Kingdom: Plantae
Clade: Tracheophytes
Clade: Angiosperms
Clade: Monocots
Clade: Commelinids
Order: Commelinales
Family: Pontederiaceae
Genus: Heteranthera
Species:
H. limosa
Binomial name
Heteranthera limosa
Synonyms[1]
  • Heteranthera alismoides Humb. ex Link
  • Heteranthera limosa f. albiflora Benke
  • Heteranthera limosa f. limosa
  • Leptanthus ovalis Michx.
  • Lunania uniflora Raf.
  • Phrynium limosum (Sw.) Kuntze
  • Pontederia limosa Sw.
  • Pontederia triandra Banks ex Schult. & Schult.f.
  • Schollera limosa (Sw.) Kuntze
  • Schollera limosa (Sw.) Raf.
  • Triexastima uniflora (Raf.) Raf.

Heteranthera limosa is an annual flowering plant in the water hyacinth family known by the common names ducksalad and blue mudplantain. It grows in shallow water or on mud. It is considered a threatened species in parts of the central United States, and an invasive species weed in California, where it is a nuisance in rice paddies. It is also occasional in Florida waterways.

Description[edit]

Heteranthera limosa is a polymorphic annual growing 2 to 6 inches tall. It looks different depending on the type of habitat it is growing in; plants in water look different than those growing on muddy ground. It is easily confused with other closely related species, so reliable identification is based on flowering plants.[2] It has thick, spade-shaped green leaves with parallel veins. When plants are grown in water the leaves may be above or below the water surface, with submerged leaves linear in shape.[3] The branching stems are creeping and maybe as long as 15 inches, rooting at the nodes.[4] Its blue, purple, or white, perfect flowers, are six-merouse with narrow petals and three stamens. The nearly 1 inch wide flowers are subtended by a spathe.[4] The flowering period is very brief subject to the correct environmental conditions,[5] and can occur from May to November. The flowers open early in the morning and wither by noon.[4]

Distribution and habitat[edit]

Heteranthera limosa grows in shallow water with the best growth in water that is less than 5cm deep; it is also found immersed at pond edges and in roadside ditches.[6] It is found growing in Arizona, Arkansas, California, Colorado, Florida, Illinois, Iowa, Kansas, Kentucky, Louisiana, Mississippi, Missouri, Nebraska, New Mexico, Oklahoma, South Dakota, Tennessee, Texas, Mexico, West Indies, Central America, and South America (Argentina, Bolivia, Brazil, Colombia, Ecuador, Paraguay, Venezuela).[6]

In Minnesota this species is at the northern limit of its natural distribution where it is found in the southwestern corner of the state, it occurs in shallow vernal pools that form from water that seeps between rock layers that includes Sioux quartzite; it is found in association with other rare species in the state such as Isoetes melanopoda, Plantago elongata, and Cyperus acuminatus.[5] In Minnesota it is listed as a threatened species, where it is rare and limited to specific unusual microhabitats.[2]

References[edit]

  1. ^ "Heteranthera limosa (Sw.) Willd". www.worldfloraonline.org. Retrieved 2021-01-16.
  2. ^ a b "Heteranthera limosa : Mud Plantain | Rare Species Guide". Minnesota Department of Natural Resources. Retrieved 2021-01-16.
  3. ^ "Heteranthera limosa (Sw.) Willd". www.worldfloraonline.org. Retrieved 2021-01-16.
  4. ^ a b c "Heteranthera limosa (Blue Mud Plantain): Minnesota Wildflowers". www.minnesotawildflowers.info. Retrieved 2021-01-16.
  5. ^ a b Barbara Coffin; Lee Pfannmuller (1988). Minnesota's Endangered Flora and Fauna. U of Minnesota Press. p. 100. ISBN 978-0-8166-1689-3.
  6. ^ a b "Heteranthera limosa in Flora of North America @ efloras.org". www.efloras.org. Retrieved 2021-01-16.

External links[edit]

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