Echinodorus subalatus

Taxobox
color = lightgreen
name = Echinodorus subalatus
regnum = Plant
divisio = Magnoliophyta
classis = Liliopsida
ordo = Alismatales
familia = Alismataceae
genus = "Echinodorus"
species = "E. subalatus"
binomial = "Echinodorus subalatus"
binomial_authority = (Mart.) Griseb. in Cat. Pl. Cub. 218, 1866

In Rataj's taxonomy E. subalatus is in Section Palaefolii, Subgenus Echinodorus

ynonyms

Alisma subalatum Mart. including majus, medium and minus; E, rubonervis Hort.; E. rangeri Hort.

Description

Leaves with canaliculate petioles, blades lanceolate, narrowly to broadly ovate, sharp on the tip, decumbent or rarely abrupt on the base, 18 - 24 cm long x 2 - 9 cm wide, with terrestrial forms usually only 10 x 2 cm having 5 - 7 veins and distinct pellucid lines.

Stem below cylindrical, between whorls triangular, often alate, 35 - 120 cm long. Inflorescence racemose or paniculate having 4 - 15 whorls. Bracts on base connate, longer than the pedicels (up to 3.5 cm). Pedicels 0.5 - 2 cm long. Sepals 4 - 6 mm long, petals about twice as long, the diameter of the corolla 1.2 - 1.5 cm. Usually 12 stamens, achenes 2 x 1.5 mm with one, rarely 2 glands separated by a rib. Stylar beak bent back - reaching usually 1/4 of the body.

Vegetatively resembles E. andrieuxii, nut differs by having distinct pellucid lines, a usually paniculate infloresence and by achenes with beaks that are at most 1/3rd as long as the body.

Distribution

Central America to South Brazil. Found naturally growing in mud by the side of streams.

Cultivation

Deep, rich growing substrate and a good light. Will grow submersed or emerse. Benefits from additional CO2.

External links

* [http://species.fishindex.com/plant_62.html FishIndex]
* [http://www.echinodorus-online.de/Deutsch/Arten/subalatus/subalatus.html Echinodorus (German text)]
* [http://www.acguanacaste.ac.cr/paginas_especie/plantae_online/magnoliophyta/alismataceae/echinodorus_subalatus/e_subalatus_12abr1999/e_subalatus_12abr1999.html E. subalatus : text in Spanish but very useful photographs]

Refs

K. Rataj in Petfish Monthly, December 1976.