Lagarosiphon muscoides Harv.

Species

Angiosperms > Alismatales > Hydrocharitaceae > Lagarosiphon

Characteristics

Stems filiform or terete, 0.2–1.6 mm. in diameter, whitish to dark green.. Leaves spirally arranged to subopposite or in whorls, mostly linear, rarely linear-lanceolate, shortly acuminate to narrowly acute, mid-green to dark green, patent, spreading or somewhat recurved, flaccid, somewhat translucent, 4.8–20 mm. long, 0.5–1.2(–1.6) mm. wide, with 2 narrow bands of sclerenchyma fibres on either side of midrib and up to 6 bands of submarginal fibres; margins ± hyaline, denticulate, the teeth usually patent, rarely curved towards the leaf-apex, without a distinct basal portion.. Nodal scales ovate to suborbicular, the margins entire or papillose.. Male spathe ovate to suborbicular, 3–4 mm. long, 1.7–2.8 mm. wide, pinkish, containing up to 40 flowers.. Male flowers: sepals oblong-ovate, 1–1.3 mm. long, ± 0.5 mm. wide, white or pink, translucent; petals ovate, 1–1.7 mm. long, 0.3–0.5 mm. wide, pink or white, translucent; stamens 1–1.7 mm. long.. Female spathe narrowly ovate to ovate, 3–4.5 mm. long, ± 2 mm. wide, pinkish.. Female flower: sepals oblong-ovate, 1.2–2 mm. long, 0.8–1.1 mm. wide, white or pink, translucent; petals narrowly ovate to ovate, 1.2–1.5 mm. long, 0.6–0.9 mm. wide, purplish pink, translucent; ovary ± 2 mm. long, with 4–8 ovules; perianth-tube up 50 mm. or more long; stigmas 1.1–1.3 mm. long, purple.. Fruit narrowly ovoid, 4–10 mm. long, 1.3–3 mm. wide.. Seeds narrowly ellipsoid, 2–2.5 mm. long, ± 0.5 mm. wide, brown.
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Stems 0.5-2 mm in diameter, usually weak. Leaves alternate, spreading, soft, thin, transparent, light green, linear, average size 10 mm long and 1-5 mm broad, apex acute, margin with 3 rows of hyaline cells which contain no chlorophyll; teeth many, acicular, pointing upwards, leaf-tip with 2 slightly larger teeth; cells of lamina elongate-oblong, with 2-3 rows of cells on each side of the midrib somewhat lighter in colour. Male inflorescence with spathe-valves flat, obovate, about 4 mm long and 2 mm broad, with about 23 teeth on each side and with up to 40 flower-buds inside; flowers white to pink. Female inflorescence with spathe-valves ovoid, about 4-5 mm long and 1.5 mm broad, with about 25 long, acute teeth on each side; perianth white, maximum length about 25 cm; ovary flask-shaped, stigmas purple; ovules about 12, funicles straight (or bent in narrow ovaries). Capsule narrow-ovoid, 5-10 mm long, with about 9 seeds breaking away from the placenta and pushed upwards one behind the other, each about 2.5 mm long.
Perennial, aquatic herb, submerged (except for flowers during anthesis), dioecious, with a perennial rhizome. Stems slender, 0.5-1.5 mm. Leaves alternate, or in consecutive whorls, but not in long continuous whorls, linear, 4.8-20.0 mm long, 0.5-1.4 mm wide, spreading, translucent, teeth sharp pointing towards leaf tip, not borne on triangular bases. Male inflorescence and male flowers similar to L. major. Female inflorescence and female flower similar to L. major.
Aquatic herb, submerged. Stems slender, 0.5-1.5 mm in diameter. Leaves translucent; blade < 2 mm wide, margins with 4-6 rows of fibre-like cells, with sharp teeth, epidermal cells longer than wide. Flowers: male inflorescence with up to 40 flower buds; female inflorescence with perianth white, up to 250 mm long; Sep.-Apr.
Aquatic herb, submerged. Leaves with a hyaline margin, consisting of at least 3 layers of cells without chlorophyll. Male spathes containing up to 40 flower buds. Female flowers whitish.
Monoecious or dioecious, submerged aquatic perennial, rootstock a rhizome, stems long and leafy. Leaves linear, toothed. Flowers tiny, axillary, white or pink.
Life form perennial
Growth form herb
Growth support aquatic
Foliage retention -
Sexuality dioecy
Pollination -
Spread -
Mature width (meter) -
Mature height (meter) 0.3 - 0.6
Root system rhizome
Rooting depth (meter) -
Root diameter (meter) -
Flower color
Blooming months -
Fruit color -
Fruiting months -
Nitrogen fixer -
Photosynthetic pathway -

Environment

Light 7-9
Soil humidity 8-10
Soil texture -
Soil acidity 5-7
Soil nutriment -
Hardiness (USDA) 9-12

Usage

Uses -
Edible -
Therapeutic use -
Human toxicity -
Animal toxicity -

Cultivation

Can be grown by cuttings.
Mode cuttings
Germination duration (days) -
Germination temperacture (C°) -
Germination luminosity -
Germination treatment -
Minimum temperature (C°) -
Optimum temperature (C°) -
Size -
Vigor -
Productivity -

Distribution

Lagarosiphon muscoides world distribution map, present in Botswana, Central African Republic, Cabo Verde, Lesotho, Mali, Namibia, Sudan, eSwatini, Chad, Tanzania, United Republic of, Uganda, South Africa, and Zimbabwe

Conservation status

Lagarosiphon muscoides threat status: Least Concern

Identifiers

LSID urn:lsid:ipni.org:names:431823-1
WFO ID wfo-0000769423
COL ID 3RVTN
BDTFX ID -
INPN ID -
Wikipedia (EN)
Wikipedia (FR)

Synonyms

Hydrilla dregeana Hydrilla muscoides Lagarosiphon muscoides Lagarosiphon schweinfurthii Lagarosiphon muscoides f. brevifolia Lagarosiphon muscoides f. longifolia