Limnophyton Miq.

Alismataceae, Susan Carter. Flora of Tropical East Africa. 1960

Morphology General Habit

Perennial aquatic and marsh herbs

Morphology Leaves

Leaves erect; leaf-blade with obtuse to rounded apex; base sagittate or cuneate; blade and petiole glabrous, scabrid or pubescent

Morphology Reproductive morphology Inflorescences

Peduncle longer than the leaves; inflorescence of 4–7 whorls of flowers, the lowest sometimes with 2–3 branches; upper whorls of ♂ flowers, lower of hermaphrodite and ♂ flowers; bracts 3, membranous, glabrous or pubescent; bracteoles 3 or more, glabrous or pubescent, smaller than the bracts

Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers Calyx

Sepals 3, spreading

Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers Corolla

Petals 3, larger than the sepals, white

Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers Androecium Stamens

Stamens 6; filaments broadened at the base

Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers Gynoecium Carpels

Carpels 10–30, free, ovoid; style ventral; ovules solitary, basal; abortive carpels in the ♂ flowers 0

Morphology Reproductive morphology Fruits

Achenes crowded on the small receptacle, swollen, with lateral air-chambers, ridged

Note

This appears to be very rare, and has not so far been discovered in our area. A third species, L. fluitans Graebn., with linear-lanceolate leaves and small (3 × 2 mm.) achenes which are sharply ridged and shiny when dried, has been found in the French Cameroons and S. Nigeria A genus which is regarded by some authors as being monospecific However, the differences between the two species described here are constant, and too diverse to be variations of the same species