Stratiotes

Taxobox
name = Stratiotes

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image_width = 220px
image_caption = "Stratiotes aloides"
regnum = Plantae
divisio = Magnoliophyta
classis = Liliopsida
ordo = Alismatales
familia = Hydrocharitaceae
genus = "Stratiotes"
subdivision_ranks = Species
subdivision = "Stratiotes acorides" "Stratiotes alismoides" "Stratiotes aloides" "Stratiotes nymphoides"

"Stratiotes" is a genus of submerged aquatic plant commonly known as water soldiers. A characteristic of the genus is the habit of the plants rising to the surface at flowering time.

Distribution

One species, "Stratiotes aloides", is native to Europe and NW Asia.

Description

The leaves are serrate and very brittle, breaking easily when handled. Reproduction is generally by offsets, which may number 5 or more per plant. In the UK, male plants have rarely if ever been recorded, although some hermaphrodite flowers have been recorded from more southerly locations. Sexual reproduction is not known to occur.

Ecology

The plant appears to be associated with calcareous waters and there is a suggestion that changing levels of calcium carbonate on the leaves may explain the floating and submerging behaviour.

The rare dragonfly, the Norfolk hawker ("Aeshna isosceles"), relies on the presence of "Stratiotes aloides" as a food source for the smaller insects on which it feeds.

Uses

S. "aloides" is commonly used in cool water ponds and aquariums in Europe