Limnophila
ambulia, marshweed
erect [prostrate, creeping], hairy or glabrous.
cauline, opposite or whorled, dimorphic;
petiole present or absent;
blade not fleshy, not leathery, margins of submerged leaves pinnatifid, of aerial leaves entire, serrate, or pinnatifid.
terminal or axillary, racemes or flowers solitary, rarely paired [or spikes];
bracts present or absent.
present or absent;
bracteoles present or absent.
bisexual, chasmogamous or cleistogamous;
sepals 5, basally connate, calyx bilaterally symmetric, tubular, lobes triangular or lanceolate [ovate];
corolla blue, blue-purple, or white, bilaterally symmetric, bilabiate, tubular or funnelform, tube base not gibbous or spurred, lobes 4 or 5, abaxial 3, adaxial 1 or 2;
stamens 4, basally adnate to corolla, didynamous, filaments glabrous or hairy;
staminode 0;
ovary 2-locular, placentation axile;
stigma capitate, 2-lobed.
capsules, dehiscence septicidal.
20–200, brown to dark brown, conic to cylindric, wings absent.
Limnophila
Species 40 (2 in the flora).
The two species recognized here could be difficult to distinguish throughout their ranges; intermediate plants, which are believed to be hybrids, have been found.
Limnophila is closely related to Hydrotriche Zuccarini, a small genus of aquatic plants native to Madagascar. Together they form a group sister to Gratiola in Gratioleae (D. Estes and R. L. Small 2008).
(Discussion copyrighted by Flora of North America; reprinted with permission.)
1. Pedicels 3–8 mm in flower, 5–12 mm in fruit; bracteoles 1–3.5 mm; corolla tubes 4–5(–8) mm; cleistogamous flowers absent. | L. indica |
1. Pedicels 0–2 mm in flower, 0–4 mm in fruit; bracteoles 0–1.5 mm; corolla tubes 8–10 mm; cleistogamous flowers present, submerged. | L. sessiliflora |
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USDA Plants Database
