European sea can

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European sea can
European sea jug (Nymphoides peltata)

European sea jug ( Nymphoides peltata )

Systematics
Asterids
Euasterids II
Order : Astern-like (Asterales)
Family : Fever clover family (Menyanthaceae)
Genre : Sea churns ( Nymphoides )
Type : European sea can
Scientific name
Nymphoides peltata
( SGGmel. ) Kuntze

The European sea can ( Nymphoides peltata ) is a water plant from the genus of sea ​​cans ( Nymphoides ) in the fever clover family (Menyanthaceae).

Appearance

It is a perennial herbaceous plant with a long, creeping rhizome. The European sea jug or pond jug has 80 to 150 cm long, flowing stems , at the upper end of which there are alternate leaves that float on the surface of the water. These are bald and oval to almost circular, with a length of 7 to 13 cm; their top is glossy green. On the underside, the leaves are gray-green to reddish. There are also tiny dots, the so-called hydropots or "water drinkers", with which the plant is able to absorb nutrients dissolved in the water. Without flowers, the species can easily be mistaken for small water lilies due to the shape of the leaves .

Blossom of the sea can

The flowers are large, funnel-shaped and deep five-lobed. They are also located at the end of long and flowing stems and appear in a panicle supported by two bracts. The sepals are lanceolate; the five yellow petals have bearded ciliate tips on the edge. The flowers appear from June to August. The nectar is secreted at the base of the ovary by five glands located between the stamens.

The number of chromosomes is 2n = 54.

Reproduction

Honey bees and bumblebees act as pollinator insects . After pollination, green, pointed and egg-shaped fruit capsules are formed that ripen under water. Ripe fruit capsules release broadly oval and radiant ciliate seeds, which thanks to their air chambers can float for a long time. As propagation strategy the plant uses, among other Zoochorie . These seeds stick in the plumage of water birds and are carried by the birds to other bodies of water. The plant is therefore able to colonize widely spaced locations.

distribution and habitat

The European sea can can be found in the lowlands of southern and central Europe as well as in climatically temperate Asia (east to Japan). It was localized in North America. It is rarely found in Germany, with a focus on the lower reaches of large rivers, in the Upper Rhine Plain and on the Danube. The sea can is a "specially protected species" and is in decline in many places.

The species prefers standing or sluggishly flowing, shallower and summer-warm waters, which are rich in nutrients and have a muddy or humus-rich sand bottom. In Central Europe it is a character species of the Nymphoidetum peltatae from the Nymphaeion albae association. It is very popular as an ornamental plant in garden ponds.

literature

Individual evidence

  1. ↑ a b Erich Oberdorfer : Plant-sociological excursion flora for Germany and neighboring areas . With the collaboration of Angelika Schwabe and Theo Müller. 8th, heavily revised and expanded edition. Eugen Ulmer, Stuttgart (Hohenheim) 2001, ISBN 3-8001-3131-5 , pp.  750-751 .
  2. ↑ Entry at wisia.de

Web links

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