African Plant Database


Hydrilla verticillata (L. f.) Royle
Family : HYDROCHARITACEAE
Protologue : Ill. Bot. Himal. Mts. 1: (1839)
Information on the genus : Hydrilla
Basionym : Serpicula verticiliata L. f.
 
 
Status
Status for NA : accepted (present)
Status for TA : accepted (present)
 
Synonym(s) Homotypic
 Serpicula verticiliata L. f.
 Udora verticillata (L. f.) Spreng.
 Elodea verticillata (L. f.) F. Muell.
 
Synonym(s) Heterotypic
=Hydrilla verticillata var. brevifolia Casp.
=Vallisneria verticillata (L. f.) Roxb.
=Hydrilla angustifolia Hassk.
=Hydrilla dentata Casp.
=Hydrilla lithuanica (Rchb.) Dandy
=Hydrilla najadifolia Zoll. & Moritzi
=Hydrilla ovalifolia Rich.
=Hydrilla polysperma Batt.
=Hydrilla roxburghii Steud.
=Hydrilla subulata Royle
=Hydrilla wightii Planch.
 
Ecology and distribution
Trop. Afr.
Biology : Annual (occasional) or perennial submerged herb, often perennating by bulb-like turions arising from tips of stolons or in leaf-axils;
  see more in the book
Ecology : Still or slow-flowing freshwater, to 1,5 m or more depth; 90-1950 m alt.
  Variable. – Easily confused with Lagarosiphon ilicifolius, especially when occurring together in the same habitat; in Hydrilla the lower leaves on stem or branches are in whorls and not spirally arranged (most of the leaves).
  Has become a serious pest in N. and C. America (Rhodora 111/945: 131-136, 2009); and in water storage systems in India, hindering anti-malarial measures and fish culture. A good oxygenator for aquaria. Spread through the trade.
  Probably native in tropical Africa in and around the central African lakes; but introduced in Mozambique, Ivory Coast. Reported from N Africa; also in S. Africa. Native in Asia.

Bibliography for Tropical Africa :
  • Exell, A. & Wild, H. (2009). Flora Zambesiaca: Mozambique, Federation of Rhodesia and Nyasaland, Bechuanaland Protectorate. London Kew 12(2): 28

Bibliography for North Africa :
  • HANSEN, A. & P. SUNDING (1993). Flora of Macaronesia. Checklist of vascular plants. 4. revised edition Sommerfeltia 17: 1-295
 
More info on :
see under Jstor_African Plant Initiative
see under The Euro-Mediterranean Plant Base
see under The International Plant Name Index
see under Flora of Mozambique
see under Herbarium, North Africa MPU
 
Map
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Record n°11076
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