Littorella
Littorella americana
littorella
American shoreweed, littorelle d'amérique
erect or creeping, glabrous.
basal, alternate;
petiole absent;
blade fleshy, not leathery, margins entire.
dark green or green when dry, usually arcuate, linear, or subulate, 10–40 × 1–2 mm, glabrous.
axillary, spikes;
bracts present.
staminate flowers 1, peduncles 5–30 mm, glabrous;
pistillate flowers 2–5, at base of plant;
bracts rounded.
present;
bracteoles absent.
unisexual;
sepals 4, nearly distinct, calyx radially symmetric, cuplike, lobes oblong;
corolla semitransparent, radially symmetric, rotate, tube not spurred or gibbous, lobes 4;
stamens 3 or 4, free, equal, filaments glabrous;
staminode 0;
ovary 1-locular, placentation basal;
stigma elongate.
sepals 2.5–3 mm;
corolla lobes erect;
stamen connective to 1 mm.
nutlets.
1, black or brown, oblong, wings absent.
2–3 mm.
2.5–3 mm.
= 12.
Littorella
Littorella americana
Species 3 (1 in the flora).
According to a recent treatment (R. K. Hoggard et al. 2003), Littorella is a sister group to Plantago; this corresponds with morphological differences between these taxa and justifies recognizing separate genera.
(Discussion copyrighted by Flora of North America; reprinted with permission.)
The relationship between Littorella americana and Eurasian L. uniflora (Linnaeus) Ascherson has been debated. Molecular data provide support for recognition of North American plants as a distinct species (R. K. Hoggard et al. 2003).
Plantago americana (Fernald) Rahn is an invalid name and pertains here.
(Discussion copyrighted by Flora of North America; reprinted with permission.)
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