Echinodorus bracteatus

Taxobox
color = lightgreen
name = Echinodorus bracteatus
regnum = Plant
divisio = Magnoliophyta
classis = Liliopsida
ordo = Alismatales
familia = Alismataceae
genus = "Echinodorus"
species = "E. bracteatus"
binomial = "Echinodorus bracteatus"
binomial_authority = Micheli in DC. Monogr. Phaner. 3:59, 1881

In Rataj's taxonomy "E. bracteatus" is in Section Cordifolii, Subgenus Echinodorus.

There are two different forms, variously described as varieties or subspecies, viz:

var. bracteatus (Panama and Ecuador)var efenestratus Fassett in Rhodora, 57:174 (1955) from Ecuador.

Description

Leaves 20 - 80 cm long, long-petioled, blades cordate, at base lobate, at tip obtuse or shortly acuminate, 2/3 as broad as long, mostly about 30 cm, but sometimes more than 50 cm long. Pellucid markings in shape of points or short ovals, or absent.

Stem erect, 70 - 150 - 190 cm long, alate. Infloresence paniculate, having usually 12 - 17 whorls. Bracts distinctly longer than the flowers, connate, 1.5 - 2 cm, exceptionally 6 cm long x 0.5 - 0.8 cm wide, having 25 - 30 ribs.

Flowers sessile or nearly so, having the pedicels only 1 - 2 mm long. Corolla white, usually 2.5 cm in diameter, stamens 20 - 24, anthers as long or broadly shorter as the filaments. Achenes claviform, short-beaked, with 4 - 5 facial ribs and usually 1 facial gland. Glands rarely 2 or absent.

Distribution

Ecuador and Panama but may be more widely distributed. Found in roadside ditches, swamps, wet forests and similar.

Cultivation

One of the larger Amazon Swords. Can grow too large for the average aquarium. Needs a large space, deep, rich substrate and plenty of light. According to reports, it flowers in the summer but doesn't set seed.

External links

* [http://www.echinodorus-online.de/Deutsch/Arten/bracteatus/bracteatus.html in German but good photographs]
* [http://fm1.fieldmuseum.org/vrrc/?page=view&id=711&PHPSESSID=2e5ffb3d6d05ac7d8e652a01fce7d6b7 herbarium specimen Guadeloupe]