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Indian marshweed

Habit Perennials aquatic or paludal.
Stems

submerged glabrous, aerial to 15 cm, glabrous or glandular-pubescent with stalked or sessile glands.

Leaves

verticillate or opposite;

blade of submerged leaves broadly ovate in outline, 10–35 × 10–15 mm, segments capillary, blade of aerial leaves linear to lanceolate, 10–40 × 1–10 mm.

Inflorescences

terminal, racemes or flowers solitary, axillary.

Pedicels

3–8 mm in flower, 5–12 mm in fruit;

bracteoles 1–3.5 mm.

Flowers

cleistogamous absent; chasmogamous aerial;

calyx 3–3.5 mm, lobes triangulate, 1–2 mm;

corolla tube white, 4–5(–8) mm, lobes lavender to purple, 1–2 × 1–1.5 mm;

stamens 4–5 mm;

style 3–4 mm.

Capsules

compressed, 3–5 mm.

Seeds

brown, conic.

2n

= 34 (Asia).

Limnophila indica

Phenology Flowering Jun–Aug.
Habitat Ponds, rice fields.
Elevation 0–100 m. (0–300 ft.)
Distribution
from FNA
FL; Asia [Introduced in North America]
[BONAP county map]
Discussion

Limnophila indica is uncommon in the flora area and may not persist. The species is variable: leaf size, shape, number, and dissection can vary with light intensity, day length, and water level (D. Philcox 1970). Corolla and calyx colors vary, and the shape and size of the calyx lobes change during the development of the flower and fruit. Limnophila indica tends to have whorled leaves proximally and flowers in racemes, characteristics that can help distinguish it from L. sessiliflora. Plants sold as L. indica in the aquarium trade are often L. sessiliflora. A hybrid with L. sessiliflora (L. ×ludoviciana Thieret) is discussed below.

(Discussion copyrighted by Flora of North America; reprinted with permission.)

Source FNA vol. 17, p. 272.
Parent taxa Plantaginaceae > Limnophila
Sibling taxa
L. sessiliflora
Synonyms Hottonia indica
Name authority (Linnaeus) Druce: Rep. Bot. Exch. Club Soc. Brit. Isles 3: 420. (1914)
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