Novelo R., A. and A. Lot H. 1994. Hydrocharitaceae. Pp. 10-12 in Davidse, G., Sousa, M. and Chater, A. (eds.). Flora Mesoamericana 6: 1-543. Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México: México, D. F.

 

3 genera and 8 spp.; pantropical, chiefly New World; 2 genera, 3 spp. in CR.

Perennial or annual aquatic herbs, with milky latex; emergent, floating or submersed. Stems fleshy, ascending, unbranched. Immature plants submersed, with linear leaves. Mature plants with petiolate leaves, basal or alternate; petioles triangular or terete, elongate, sheathing at base; blades linear-lanceolate to lanceolate or ovate to oval to elliptic, cordate, truncate, or attenuate at base; leaf margins entire. Inflorescences erect or sometimes prostrate, floating on the water, umbelliform, axillary clusters, or flowers solitary. Flowers bisexual. Sepals 3, green. Petals 3, yellow or white. Stamens 6-numerous, staminodes typically present. Pistils 3 to numerous, ovaries superior. Fruit a cluster of follicles or a head offlat, thin-walled nutlets.

The Limnocharitaceae, like most aquatic plants, are under collected and distributions of taxa are likely more widespread than specimens indicate.

1. Leaves floating, petioles terete, septate, blades mostly elliptic, (2.5)5-9.5 cm long, almost as wide as long; flowers solitary; carpels 3, elongate, plump; fruit a cluster of follicles...Hydrocleys

1. Leaves emergent, petioles triangular, non-septate, blades linear-lanceolate or broadly ovate to oval, (3)10-21 cm long, longer than wide; flowers in an umbelliform inflorescence; carpels numerous, semicircular, flattened; fruit a globose head of flat, thin-walled nutlets...Limnocharis

Holm-Nielsen, L. B. and R. R. Haynes. 1985. The identity of Limnocharis mattogrossensis Kuntze (Limnocharitaceae) and its allies. Phytologia 57: 421-425.

 

 

Hydrocleys parviflora Seubert, in C. Martius, Fl. Bras. 3: 117. 1847. [H. standleyi Steyerm.].

Plants rooted, with rhizomes strongly stoloniferous. Leaves basal, submersed, with stolons giving rise to clusters of floating leaves; floating leaves with blades mostly elliptic or ovate, almost as wide as long, the base rounded; petioles long, septate. Flowers solitary, pale-yellow to white, scape septate, floating on the water or submersed. Sepals 0.9-2 cm long. Petals 0.9-1.5 cm long, much wider than the sepals. Stamens 6-7, staminodes 3-6, or absent. Carpels 3, elongate, with distinct style. Fruit a follicle.

Lagunas. Valle Tempisque [Crow & Rivera 6280, CR, MO, NHA], Oct. S. Mex. to Bolivia and Brazil.

Perennial or annual. Plants rooted, emergent. Leaves basal, petioles fleshy, triangular, non-septate; blades linear-lanceolate to lanceolate, or broadly ovate to oval, often much longer than wide; attenuate or truncate to cordate, at base. Inflorescence umbelliform, shorter than the leaves, scape fleshy, triangular. Flowers (1-)2-15, pedicels fleshy, triangular. Sepals green, persistent. Petals pale yellow. Stamens numerous, outer ones frequently staminodial. Carpels 15-20, laterally flattened, in a head. Fruit a globose head of flattened nutlets, pedicels recurved in fruit; seeds numerous.

1. Leaves broadly ovate to oval, truncate to cordate at base, less than 2 times as long as wide; scape as long as or longer than the petioles...L. flava

1. Leaves linear-lanceolate to lanceolate, attenuate at base, more than 2 times as long as wide; scape much shorter than the petioles...L. laforestii

Limnocharis flava (L.) Buchenau, Abh. Naturwiss. Vereine Bremen 2: 2. 1869. [Alisma flava L., Sp. Pl. 343. 1753.].

Leaf blades broadly ovate to oval, 6.5-28 cm long, 3-20 cm wide, truncate to cordate at base; petioles 12-85 cm long. Scape as long or longer than the petioles, with 3-12 flowers, frequently proliferating. Sepals 1.4-2 cm long. Petals ca. 2.5 cm long. Fruiting heads (1.2)1.4-1.6(1.7) cm wide, (1)1.2-1.4 cm long

Lagunas, marshes and ditches. Llanures Guatusos, Tortuguero, Limon [Crow & Rivera 7618, CR, MO, NHA], Aug., Sept. Mex. to Bolivia and Argentina; Antilles.

Limnocharis laforestii Duchass. ex Griseb., Bonplandia (Hanover) 6: 11. 1858. [Limnocharis flava var. minor M. Micheli].

Leaf blades linear-lanceolate to lanceolate, 2.2-16 cm long, 0.2-5 cm wide. attenuate at base, much longer than wide; petioles 2-17 cm long. Scape shorter than the petioles, with 1-7(12) flowers. Sepals 0.8-1.8 cm long. Petals ca. 1.7 cm long. Fruiting heads 1.1-1.4 wide, (0.8)1-1.3 cm long.

Lagunas, marshes and ditches. Osa Peninsula, Valle Tempisque [Crow & Rivera 6288, CR, MO, NHA], Sept., Oct. Mex. to Bolivia and Argentina.