Rotala rotundifolia

Rotala rotundifolia
Flowers, from Periya
Scientific classification
Kingdom: Plantae
(unranked): Angiosperms
(unranked): Eudicots
(unranked): Rosids
Order: Myrtales
Family: Lythraceae
Genus: Rotala
Species: R. rotundifolia
Binomial name
Rotala rotundifolia
(Buch.-Ham. ex Roxb.) Koehne

Rotala rotundifolia is a plant species.

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[Source needed].

sp. Green is sold in the aquarium trade but is of uncertain status

Distribution

India, China, Formosa, Thailand, Laos and Vietnam - introduced to the United States

Ecology

A common weed in rice paddies and wet places

Description

The emerse form has rounded leaves, the submerse leaves are narrow lanceolate. It is very variable dependent 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.

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.

References

    External links

    CCategory:Freshwater plants