Hygrophila polysperma T.Anderson

Indian swampweed (en)

Species

Angiosperms > Lamiales > Acanthaceae > Hygrophila

Characteristics

Annuals [or perennials] 10-20 cm tall. Stems often prostrate, 4-angled, slightly swollen above nodes, puberulent, soon glabrescent. Petiole to 5 mm; leaf blade oblong-lanceolate to ovate, 2-3.5 × 0.6-1.3 cm, glabrous, base attenuate, margin entire, apex subobtuse. Inflorescences terminal spikes, 1.3-5 cm; bracts imbricate, ovate, elliptic, or obovate, 5-10 × 1.5-3.5 mm, both surfaces densely hirtellous, apex obtuse; bracteoles lanceolate, 3.5-5 × 0.5-1 mm, margin ciliate. Calyx 3.5-6 mm; lobes lanceolate, 2.5-3 mm, unequal, pubescent, apex acuminate. Corolla white, ca. 6 mm; tube ca. 3.5 mm; lower lip ca. 2 mm, 3-lobed, lobes orbicular and subequal; upper lip oblong-ovate, ca. 1 mm, 2-lobed. Stamens 2, slightly exserted; filaments ca. 1 mm, coherent into a membrane near base; anther thecae subequal; staminodes 2, bristlelike, short. Capsule linear-oblong, 5.5-8 mm, pubescent with non-gland-tipped trichomes (also glabrous?), 20-30-seeded. Seeds ca. 1 × 0.5 mm. Fl. Sep-Nov, fr. Oct-Jan. 2n = 32.
Life form
Growth form herb
Growth support aquatic
Foliage retention deciduous
Sexuality hermaphrodite
Pollination -
Spread -
Mature width (meter) -
Mature height (meter) 0.1 - 0.2
Root system -
Rooting depth (meter) -
Root diameter (meter) -
Flower color
Blooming months
JanFebMar
AprMayJun
JulAugSep
OctNovDec
Fruit color -
Fruiting months
JanFebMar
AprMayJun
JulAugSep
OctNovDec
Nitrogen fixer -
Photosynthetic pathway -

Environment

Light -
Soil humidity -
Soil texture -
Soil acidity -
Soil nutriment -
Hardiness (USDA) 9-11

Usage

Uses environmental use
Edible -
Therapeutic use Molluscacides (leaf), Anthelmintics (root)
Human toxicity -
Animal toxicity -

Cultivation

Mode -
Germination duration (days) -
Germination temperacture (C°) -
Germination luminosity -
Germination treatment -
Minimum temperature (C°) 1
Optimum temperature (C°) -
Size -
Vigor -
Productivity -

Images

Hygrophila polysperma unspecified picture

Distribution

Hygrophila polysperma world distribution map, present in Afghanistan, Australia, Bangladesh, Bhutan, China, India, Lao People's Democratic Republic, Sri Lanka, Myanmar, Nepal, Pakistan, United States of America, and Viet Nam

Conservation status

Hygrophila polysperma threat status: Least Concern

Identifiers

LSID urn:lsid:ipni.org:names:49756-1
WFO ID wfo-0000726843
COL ID 3NBS2
BDTFX ID -
INPN ID -
Wikipedia (EN) Link
Wikipedia (FR) Link

Synonyms

Hygrophila polysperma Hemiadelphis polysperma Justicia polysperma