Compilation
Ottelia alismoides

30 Images see all

Previous
Next

Name

Identification
Ottelia alismoides L. Pers. [family HYDROCHARITACEAE ] (stored under name); Verified by P. Ascherson, 1881 Stratiotes alismoides L. [family HYDROCHARITACEAE ] Verified by Not on Sheet,
Related name
  • Hydrocharis bodinieri
  • Ottelia alismoides
  • Boottia alata
  • Boottia lanceolata
  • Ottelia bodinieri
  • Ottelia condorensis
  • Boottia thorelii
  • Stratiotes alismoides
Common name
  • Duck-lettuce, Flora of North America Vol. 22

Flora

Entry for Ottelia alismoides (Linnaeus) Persoon [family HYDROCHARITACEAE]
Herbarium
Flora of North America (FNA)
Collection
Flora of North America
Resource Type
Reference Sources
Entry From
Flora of North America, Vol 22,
Names
Ottelia alismoides (Linnaeus) Persoon [family HYDROCHARITACEAE], Syn. Pl., 1: 400. 1805
Stratiotes alismoides Linnaeus [family HYDROCHARITACEAE], Sp. Pl., 1: 535. 1753
Information
Leaves submersed; blade lanceolate to widely ovate, to 17 ´ to 20 cm, margins entire to crisped. Inflorescences 1-flowered; spathes 3--10-winged. Flowers: sepals10--15 ´ 2--9 mm; stamens 3--12; ovary 1, 3--9-carpellate. Fruits 15--40 mm. Seeds to 2000.
Phenology
Flowering spring--summer
Altitude range
0--50 m
Distribution
AsiaAustralia.USA Calif.USA La.
Discussion
Ottelia alismoides is a quite distinctive member of our aquatic flora. It is the only species we have with flowers surrounded by a winged or ribbed spathe. The plant is entirely submersed except for the flower, which is projected to the water surface by the elongate peduncle. The flowers may open fully even when completely submersed.
First collected in North America in Calcasieu Parish, Louisiana, in 1939, Ottelia alismoides is a conspicuous weed of rice paddies and irrigation systems in the warmer countries of the Eastern Hemisphere. Propagules were probably inadvertently brought into North America with rice seed (D. H. Dike 1969).

Related Materials