Echinodorus
Encyclopedia
Echinodorus is a genus
of plants in the family Alismataceae
and distributed in the Western Hemisphere
. Its scientific name
is derived from Ancient Greek
echius – rough husk, and doros – leathern bottle, alluding to ovaries, which in some species are armed with persistent styles, forming prickly head of fruit.
or perennial
, growing emerse, floating-leaved, or seasonally submerse, leaves glabrous to stellate-pubescent; rhizomes present or absent; stolons absent; corm
s absent; tubers absent. Root
s not septate. Leaves sessile
or petiolate
; petioles
triangular, rarely terete; blade with translucent markings as dots or lines present or absent, linear to lanceolate to ovate, base attenuate to cordate, margins entire or undulating, apex obtuse to acute. Inflorescences racemes or panicles, rarely umbels, of 1--18 whorls, erect or decumbent, emersed; bracts coarse, apex obtuse to acute, surfaces smooth or papillose along veins, apex obtuse to acute. Flowers bisexual, subsessile to pedicellate; bracts subtending pedicels, subulate to lanceolate, shorter than to longer than pedicels, apex obtuse to acute; pedicels ascending to recurved; receptacle convex; sepals recurved to spreading, herbaceous
to leathery, sculpturing absent; petals white, entire; stamens 9--25; filaments linear, glabrous; pistils 15--250 or more, spirally arranged on convex receptacle, forming head, distinct; ovules 1; style terminal or lateral. Fruits plump, often longitudinally ribbed, sometimes flattened, rarely abaxially keeled, abaxial wings absent, lateral wings absent, glands often present.
. Most will grow in variable water conditions, though the majority need tropical or sub-tropical
temperature ranges. Propagation is by division or by adventitious new plants developing on submerged flowering stems. The larger species make magnificent specimen plants for the larger aquarium, though they may form aerial leaves in good conditions. If the inflorescence
forms submerse small plantlets will form instead of flowers. If grown emerse and kept humid, flowers and seeds will normally readily form. The seeds can be grown in damp sand in warm, damp conditions. Additional CO2 often helps in strong growth.
Many species are popular in the aquarium
or pond
. The Amazon
Sword Plants are one of the most popular aquarium
plants for their attractive form and general hardiness.
The genus Baldellia seems to be very closely related.
note: in the latest revision by Karel Rataj 62 species, 2 subspecies and 2 varieties are listed. Many cultivars of uncertain taxonomic status are also listed by the aquarium
trade.
Genus
In biology, a genus is a low-level taxonomic rank used in the biological classification of living and fossil organisms, which is an example of definition by genus and differentia...
of plants in the family Alismataceae
Alismataceae
The water-plantains are a family of flowering plants, comprising 11 genera and between 85-95 species. The family has a cosmopolitan distribution, with the greatest number of species in temperate regions of the Northern Hemisphere...
and distributed in the Western Hemisphere
Western Hemisphere
The Western Hemisphere or western hemisphere is mainly used as a geographical term for the half of the Earth that lies west of the Prime Meridian and east of the Antimeridian , the other half being called the Eastern Hemisphere.In this sense, the western hemisphere consists of the western portions...
. Its scientific name
Binomial nomenclature
Binomial nomenclature is a formal system of naming species of living things by giving each a name composed of two parts, both of which use Latin grammatical forms, although they can be based on words from other languages...
is derived from Ancient Greek
Ancient Greek
Ancient Greek is the stage of the Greek language in the periods spanning the times c. 9th–6th centuries BC, , c. 5th–4th centuries BC , and the c. 3rd century BC – 6th century AD of ancient Greece and the ancient world; being predated in the 2nd millennium BC by Mycenaean Greek...
echius – rough husk, and doros – leathern bottle, alluding to ovaries, which in some species are armed with persistent styles, forming prickly head of fruit.
Description
Plants annualAnnual plant
An annual plant is a plant that usually germinates, flowers, and dies in a year or season. True annuals will only live longer than a year if they are prevented from setting seed...
or perennial
Perennial plant
A perennial plant or simply perennial is a plant that lives for more than two years. The term is often used to differentiate a plant from shorter lived annuals and biennials. The term is sometimes misused by commercial gardeners or horticulturalists to describe only herbaceous perennials...
, growing emerse, floating-leaved, or seasonally submerse, leaves glabrous to stellate-pubescent; rhizomes present or absent; stolons absent; corm
Corm
A corm is a short, vertical, swollen underground plant stem that serves as a storage organ used by some plants to survive winter or other adverse conditions such as summer drought and heat ....
s absent; tubers absent. Root
Root
In vascular plants, the root is the organ of a plant that typically lies below the surface of the soil. This is not always the case, however, since a root can also be aerial or aerating . Furthermore, a stem normally occurring below ground is not exceptional either...
s not septate. Leaves sessile
Sessility (botany)
In botany, sessility is a characteristic of plants whose flowers or leaves are borne directly from the stem or peduncle, and thus lack a petiole or pedicel...
or petiolate
Petiole (botany)
In botany, the petiole is the stalk attaching the leaf blade to the stem. The petiole usually has the same internal structure as the stem. Outgrowths appearing on each side of the petiole are called stipules. Leaves lacking a petiole are called sessile, or clasping when they partly surround the...
; petioles
Petiole (botany)
In botany, the petiole is the stalk attaching the leaf blade to the stem. The petiole usually has the same internal structure as the stem. Outgrowths appearing on each side of the petiole are called stipules. Leaves lacking a petiole are called sessile, or clasping when they partly surround the...
triangular, rarely terete; blade with translucent markings as dots or lines present or absent, linear to lanceolate to ovate, base attenuate to cordate, margins entire or undulating, apex obtuse to acute. Inflorescences racemes or panicles, rarely umbels, of 1--18 whorls, erect or decumbent, emersed; bracts coarse, apex obtuse to acute, surfaces smooth or papillose along veins, apex obtuse to acute. Flowers bisexual, subsessile to pedicellate; bracts subtending pedicels, subulate to lanceolate, shorter than to longer than pedicels, apex obtuse to acute; pedicels ascending to recurved; receptacle convex; sepals recurved to spreading, herbaceous
Herbaceous
A herbaceous plant is a plant that has leaves and stems that die down at the end of the growing season to the soil level. They have no persistent woody stem above ground...
to leathery, sculpturing absent; petals white, entire; stamens 9--25; filaments linear, glabrous; pistils 15--250 or more, spirally arranged on convex receptacle, forming head, distinct; ovules 1; style terminal or lateral. Fruits plump, often longitudinally ribbed, sometimes flattened, rarely abaxially keeled, abaxial wings absent, lateral wings absent, glands often present.
Cultivation
Echinodorus are by nature marsh and bog plants that can grow submersed. Many species are grown in aquariums. They prefer good light and grow best in a deep, nutrient-rich substrateSubstrate (aquarium)
The substrate of an aquarium refers to the material used on the tank bottom. It can affect water chemistry, filtration, and the well-being of the aquarium's inhabitants, and is also an important part of the aquarium's aesthetic appeal...
. Most will grow in variable water conditions, though the majority need tropical or sub-tropical
Subtropics
The subtropics are the geographical and climatical zone of the Earth immediately north and south of the tropical zone, which is bounded by the Tropic of Cancer and the Tropic of Capricorn, at latitudes 23.5°N and 23.5°S...
temperature ranges. Propagation is by division or by adventitious new plants developing on submerged flowering stems. The larger species make magnificent specimen plants for the larger aquarium, though they may form aerial leaves in good conditions. If the inflorescence
Inflorescence
An inflorescence is a group or cluster of flowers arranged on a stem that is composed of a main branch or a complicated arrangement of branches. Strictly, it is the part of the shoot of seed plants where flowers are formed and which is accordingly modified...
forms submerse small plantlets will form instead of flowers. If grown emerse and kept humid, flowers and seeds will normally readily form. The seeds can be grown in damp sand in warm, damp conditions. Additional CO2 often helps in strong growth.
Many species are popular in the aquarium
Aquarium
An aquarium is a vivarium consisting of at least one transparent side in which water-dwelling plants or animals are kept. Fishkeepers use aquaria to keep fish, invertebrates, amphibians, marine mammals, turtles, and aquatic plants...
or pond
Pond
A pond is a body of standing water, either natural or man-made, that is usually smaller than a lake. A wide variety of man-made bodies of water are classified as ponds, including water gardens, water features and koi ponds; all designed for aesthetic ornamentation as landscape or architectural...
. The Amazon
Amazon Rainforest
The Amazon Rainforest , also known in English as Amazonia or the Amazon Jungle, is a moist broadleaf forest that covers most of the Amazon Basin of South America...
Sword Plants are one of the most popular aquarium
Aquarium
An aquarium is a vivarium consisting of at least one transparent side in which water-dwelling plants or animals are kept. Fishkeepers use aquaria to keep fish, invertebrates, amphibians, marine mammals, turtles, and aquatic plants...
plants for their attractive form and general hardiness.
Taxonomy
Approximately 26 species distributed throughout the Western Hemisphere.The genus Baldellia seems to be very closely related.
note: in the latest revision by Karel Rataj 62 species, 2 subspecies and 2 varieties are listed. Many cultivars of uncertain taxonomic status are also listed by the aquarium
Aquarium
An aquarium is a vivarium consisting of at least one transparent side in which water-dwelling plants or animals are kept. Fishkeepers use aquaria to keep fish, invertebrates, amphibians, marine mammals, turtles, and aquatic plants...
trade.
Species
- Echinodorus angustifoliusEchinodorus angustifoliusNote: Haynes & Neilson classify this species under E. bolivianus but the latest revision by Rataj keeps it distinct. There is mention that it may be triploid, whereas bolivianus is diploid.-Description:...
- Echinodorus argentinensisEchinodorus argentinensisIn Rataj's classification Echinodorus argentinensis is in Section Cordifolii, Subgenus Echinodorus.Other authorities question the specific rank of this species.-Synonyms:...
- Echinodorus aschersonianusEchinodorus aschersonianus-Description:Leaves 35 - 40 cm long, petioles usually as long as the blades. Blades very variable; usually cordate, at the tip blunt or hardly acuminate, at the base shallowly lobate, or oval, ovate or nearly lanceolate. All forms can be found on the same plant. Blades 13cm long x 2.5 - 8cm wide,...
- Echinodorus berteroiEchinodorus berteroiIn Rataj's taxonomy E. berteroi is in Section Berteroii, Subgenus Echinodorus.Several varieties are named in the literature, but their exact status in such a variable plant seems uncertain.-Distribution:...
- Echinodorus bleheriEchinodorus bleheriEchinodorus bleheri is commonly known as Amazon sword plant, although other plants are also known under this common name. The plant is cultivated for and used in freshwater aquariums.-Synonyms:...
- Echinodorus bracteatusEchinodorus bracteatusIn Rataj's taxonomy E. bracteatus is in Section Cordifolii, Subgenus Echinodorus.There are two different forms, variously described as varieties or subspecies, viz:var...
- Echinodorus cordifoliusEchinodorus cordifolius-Synonyms:E. radicans Engelmann; Alisma cordifolia Linnaeus, Sp. Pl. 1: 343. 1753-Distribution:Found in wetlands in Mexico and North America...
- Echinodorus grisebachii
- Echinodorus horizontalisEchinodorus horizontalisIn Rataj's taxonomy E. bleheri is in Section Longipetali, Subgenus Echinodorus-Description:Leaves 25 - 40 cm long, blades join the petiole at an obtuse angle so that they stand nearly horizontally, they are ovate or cordate, on the tip acuminate, the base truncate or shortly lobate, usually with 7...
- Echinodorus isthmicus
- Echinodorus longiscapusEchinodorus longiscapusIn Rataj's taxonomy E. longiscapus is in Section Cordifolii, Subgenus Echinodorus-Synonyms:Alisma grandiflorum Cham et. Schlecht; E. grandiflorus ovatus Mich.; E. sellowianus Buch; E. sellowianus major Buch.; E. sellowianus minor Buch.; E. grandiflorus var floribundus Mich.; E. grandiflorus var....
- Echinodorus macrophyllusEchinodorus macrophyllusRataj places it in his Section Macrophylli - Subgenus Echinodorus-Description:Petioles 2 - 3 x longer than the blade, membraneously alate on the base, thin to densely pilose under the blade. Pubescence simple or stellate and absent on young or submerged plants...
- Echinodorus nymphaeifoliusEchinodorus nymphaeifoliusIn Rataj's taxonomy nymphaeifolius is in Section Nymphaeifolii, Subgenus Helianthium. The only species in this section.-Description:Variable - one plant can develop 2 - 3 stems of different types simultaneously....
- Echinodorus opacusEchinodorus opacusIn Karel Rataj's taxonomy Echinodorus opacus is in Section Portalegrensii, Subgenus Echinodorus.Other authorities place this species like E...
- Echinodorus osirisEchinodorus osirisIn Rataj's taxonomy E. osiris, commonly known as the melon sword, is in section Uruguayensii, subgenus Echinodorus.Other authorities consider this species as part of Echinodorus uruguayensis.-Synonyms:...
- Echinodorus ovalisEchinodorus ovalisIn Rataj's taxonomy Echinodorus ovalis is in Section Cordifolii, Subgenus Echinodorus.It is related to Echinodorus cordifolius and listed by some authorities and importers as a synonym of that species, eg. E...
- Echinodorus subalatusEchinodorus subalatusIn Rataj's taxonomy E. subalatus is in Section Palaefolii, Subgenus Echinodorus-Synonyms:Alisma subalatum Mart. including majus, medium and minus; E, rubonervis Hort.; E...
- Echinodorus tenellusEchinodorus tenellus-Synonyms:Alisma tenellus Martius; Alisma tenellum; Echinodorus naine; Echinodorus parvulus Engelm.; Echinodorus tenellus var. ecostatus; Echinodorus tenellus Buch. var. latifolius Fassett; Echinodorus tenellus Buch. var...
- Echinodorus trialatusEchinodorus trialatusEchinodorus trialatus is a type of plant. In Rataj's taxonomy, E. trialatus is in Section Paniculati, Subgenus Echinodorus.-Description:...
- Echinodorus tunicatusEchinodorus tunicatusIn Rataj's taxonomy E. tunicatus is in Section Longipetali, Subgenus EchinodorusSometimes seen as Queen of Hearts-Synonyms:E. longipetalus sensu Woodson et. Schery Ann. Mo. Bot. Gard. 30:101, 1943 -Description:...
- Echinodorus uruguayensisEchinodorus uruguayensisIn Rataj's taxonomy E. uruguayensis is in Section Uruguayensii, Subgenus Echinodorus-Synonyms:E. subulatus Niederlein; E. martii var. uruguayensis Hauman; E. grandiflorusIn the aquarium trade E. horemanii seems often to be really E...
- Echinodorus virgatusEchinodorus virgatusIn Rataj's taxonomy E.virgatus is in Section Cordifolii, Subgenus Echinodorus-Description:Leaves 45 cm long, petioles longer than the blade...