Echinodorus paniculatus Micheli

  • Authority

    Haynes, Robert R. & Holm-Nielsen, Laurtiz B. 1994. The Alismataceae. Fl. Neotrop. Monogr. 64: 1-228. (Published by NYBG Press)

  • Family

    Alismataceae

  • Scientific Name

    Echinodorus paniculatus Micheli

  • Type

    Type. Guyana, Schomburgk 220 (lectotype, K!, fide Rataj, 1975).

  • Synonyms

    Echinodorus cylindricus Rataj, Echinodorus macrocarpus Rataj, Echinodorus glaucus Rataj

  • Description

    Species Description - Annuals or short-lived perennials from short erect rhizomes, glabrous, to 350 cm tall; rhizomes to 3 cm long, to 4 cm diam. Leaves emersed pale green to green-brown, petiolate; blades lanceolate to lance-ovate, entire, with 5-7 veins, 12.5-27 cm long, 1.4-15 cm wide, the pellucid markings absent, the apex acute, the base truncate to attenuate; petioles triangular throughout, 17.5-55 cm long, 5-11 mm diam., the base with a sheath to 23 cm long. Inflorescence racemose or paniculate, of 4-8 whorls, mostly erect, rarely decumbent, overtopping the leaves, often vegetatively proliferating, to 40 cm long to 30 cm wide, the whorls with 6-40 flowers, the rachis triangular between whorls; peduncles triangular, 40-105 cm long, 0.3-1.0 mm wide; bracts linear, coarse throughout, shorter than pedicel, 1.5-3.1 cm long, 0.2-0.5 mm wide, the apex acuminate to subulate; pedicels spreading in flower and fruit, terete, ridged, 0.5-6.5 cm long, 0.5-1 mm diam. Flowers ca. 16 mm wide; sepals spreading, ca. 20-veined, 4.5-6.5 mm long, 1.8-3.2 mm wide, the veins mostly without papillae; petals not clawed, ca. 7 mm long, ca. 6 mm wide; stamens 20 or more, the anthers versatile, to 2.5 mm long, the apex obtuse, the filaments to 1.5 mm long; carpels numerous. Fruit oblanceolate, terete, 4-ribbed, keeled, eglandular, separating when mature, 1.5-3 mm long, 0.4-0.8 mm wide, the beak terminal, erect, to 0.7 mm long.

  • Discussion

    Sold under the German commercial name "Grosse Amazonas-Schwertpflanze" ("Large Amazon Swordplant," transl.). Propagation is both by adventitious plantlets on the inflorescence and by seeds. This species is naturally an emergent plant but can be kept in the submersed condition for 1-2 years when raised from seeds and grown on a very poor substrate. It is not particularly suitable for aquariums (De Wit, 1971).

  • Objects

    Specimen - 393738, R. R. Haynes 8429, Echinodorus paniculatus Micheli, Alismataceae (30.0), Magnoliophyta; Central America, Nicaragua, Rivas

    Specimen - 311449, E. P. Killip 6218, Echinodorus paniculatus var. dubius Fassett, Alismataceae (30.0), Magnoliophyta, isotype; South America, Colombia, Valle del Cauca

    Specimen - 393786, G. Davidse 3941, Echinodorus paniculatus Micheli, Alismataceae (30.0), Magnoliophyta; South America, Venezuela

    Specimen - 393789, R. M. Harley 17446, Echinodorus paniculatus Micheli, Alismataceae (30.0), Magnoliophyta; South America, Brazil, Bahia, Belmonte Mun.

    Specimen - 00877620, B. A. Krukoff 2030, Echinodorus grandiflorus var. aureus Fassett, Alismataceae (30.0), Magnoliophyta; South America, Brazil, Maranhão

    Specimen - 00877618, G. T. Prance 26156, Echinodorus grandiflorus var. aureus Fassett, Alismataceae (30.0), Magnoliophyta; South America, Brazil, Mato Grosso

  • Distribution

    Mexico, Nicaragua, and northern South America south to Paraguay and Argentina. Flowering and fruiting year round; sea level to 1500 m elev.

    Mexico North America| Campeche Mexico North America| Chiapas Mexico North America| Tabasco Mexico North America| Tamaulipas Mexico North America| Veracruz Mexico North America| Nicaragua Central America| Chinandega Nicaragua Central America| Chontales Nicaragua Central America| Granada Nicaragua Central America| León Nicaragua Central America| Matagalpa Nicaragua Central America| Río San Juan Nicaragua Central America| Rivas Nicaragua Central America| Costa Rica South America| Guanacaste Costa Rica Central America| Colombia South America| Atlántico Colombia South America| Magdalena Colombia South America| Valle Colombia South America| Venezuela South America| Apure Venezuela South America| Aragua Venezuela South America| Barinas Venezuela South America| Guárico Venezuela South America| Sucre Venezuela South America| Lara Venezuela South America| Miranda Venezuela South America| Portuguesa Venezuela South America| Guárico Venezuela South America| Guyana South America| Ecuador South America| Guayas Ecuador South America| Los Ríos Ecuador South America| Peru South America| Brazil South America| Paraná Brazil South America| Bahia Brazil South America| Distrito Federal Brazil South America| Goiás Brazil South America| Maranhão Brazil South America| Mato Grosso Brazil South America| Minas Gerais Brazil South America| Rio de Janeiro Brazil South America| Rondônia Brazil South America| São Paulo Brazil South America| Roraima Brazil South America|