Rotala rotundifolia
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| Rotala rotundifolia | ||||||||||||||
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| Binomial name | ||||||||||||||
| Rotala rotundifolia (Buch.-Ham. ex Roxb.) Koehne |
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[edit] Synonyms
Ammania rotundifolia Hamilton; Ammania latifolia Wallich pro parte; Ammania subspicata Bentham; Ameletia rotundifolias Dalzell ex Gibson; Ameletias subspicata Bentham
Often confused with Rotala indica.
sp. Green is sold in the aquarium trade but is of uncertain status
[edit] Distribution
India, China, Formosa, Thailand, Laos and Vietnam - introduced to the United States
[edit] Ecology
A common weed in rice paddies and wet places
[edit] Description
The emerse form has rounded leaves, the submerse leaves are narrow lanceolate. It is very variable dependant on light and environmental conditions. Under strong light the leaves can become almost wine red. Pale pink flowers. This plant can be differentiated from the closely related R. indica by the differences in the two species' inflorescences. R. rotundifolia bears groups of terminal inflorescence while R. indica has solitary flowers on the axis of the leaves.
[edit] Cultivation
A common aquarium plant. Undemanding but likes a lot of light to thrive. Can withstand relatively cool temperatures. Losing its lower leaves usually means it is not receiving enough light. Can be grown emerse in shallow water where it will flower. Forms a good clump under reasonable conditions.
Propagated by cuttings which form as side shoots.
[edit] References
- Cook. C.D.K. 1976. A revision of the genus Rotala. Boissiera 29:1-156.
