Echinodorus berteroi (Spreng.) Fassett
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Authority
Haynes, Robert R. & Holm-Nielsen, Laurtiz B. 1994. The Alismataceae. Fl. Neotrop. Monogr. 64: 1-228. (Published by NYBG Press)
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Family
Alismataceae
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Scientific Name
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Type
Type. Based on the type of Alisma berteroi.
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Synonyms
Alisma berteroi Spreng., Alisma berteroanum Balb. ex Schult. & Schult.f., Alisma rostratum Nutt., Echinodorus rostratus (Nutt.) Engelm. ex A.Gray, Echinodorus rostratus var. lanceolatus Engelm. ex S.Watson & Coult., Echinodorus cordifolius f. lanceolatus (Engelm. ex S.Watson & Coult.) Fernald, Echinodorus rostratus f. lanceolatus (Engelm. ex S.Watson & Coult.) Fernald, Echinodorus berteroi var. lanceolatus (Engelm. ex S.Watson & Coult.) Fernald, Alisma sprengelii Rich. ex Kunth, Echinodorus patagonicus Speg., Echinodorus berteroi var. patagonicus (Speg.) Rataj
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Description
Species Description - Annuals or short lived perennials from short erect rhizomes, glabrous, to 70 cm tall; rhizomes to 2.5 cm long, to 2 cm diam. Leaves emersed or submersed; emersed leaves green to green-brown, petiolate, the blades elliptic, lanceolate, or ovate, entire, with 3-11 veins, 2.6-15.5 cm long, 0.5-20 cm wide, the pellucid markings present as separate lines, the apex obtuse to acute, the base truncate or occasionally cordate to tapering, the petioles terete to triangular throughout, 2-36 cm long, 0.6-6 mm diam., the base with a sheath to 7 cm long. Inflorescence racemose rarely paniculate, of 1-9 whorls, erect, overtopping the leaves, not vegetatively proliferating, 1.5-40 cm long, 1.7-50 cm wide, the whorls with 1-3 flowers, the rachis triangular between whorls; peduncles angled, 3-5-ridged, 2.1-57 cm long, to 0.5 cm wide; bracts lanceolate, coarse with scarious margins, separate, shorter than pedicels, 0.3-2.5 cm long, 1-4 mm wide, the apex acute; pedicels spreading to ascending in flower and fruit, cylindric, 0.6-2.8 cm long, 0.4-0.6 mm diam. Flowers 6-11 mm wide; sepals spreading to reflexed, with 9-13 veins, 0.9-3.4 mm long, 1.3-2.9 mm wide, the veins without papillae; petals clawed, spreading, 2.5-0.8 mm long, 3.5-4.5 mm wide, the claw to 0.5 mm long; stamens ca. 15, the anthers versatile, ca. 8 mm long, the apex obtuse, the filaments to 7 mm long; carpels numerous. oblanceolate, terete, 3-5-ribbed, 2-keeled, glandular, separating when mature, 0.9-3.2 mm long, 0.6-2.5 mm wide, the glands 1-2, elliptic, between the ribs, the beak terminal, erect, 0.6-1.3 mm long.
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Discussion
Echinodorus berteroi is readily recognized when in fruit. The elongated beaks of the fruits project upward, giving the fruiting aggregate an echinate appearance (and hence the generic name).
This taxon has been widely cited in North American literature as E. rostratus (Haynes, 1980; Godfrey & Wooten, 1979; Voss, 1972), despite the epithet berteroi having priority as shown by Fassett (1955).Sprengel (1825) listed the epithet as berterii rather than berteroi, a misspelling since Sprengel began the epithet with an upper case letter, indicating a proper name commemorating Bertero, the collector of the original specimen. Fassett (1955) utilized the spelling that is correct according to Article 73 of The International Code of Botanical Nomenclature (Greuter et al., 1988), although he made no mention that his spelling differed from that of Sprengel.The species is sold under the German commercial name "Zellophanpflanze" ("Cellophane Plant," transl.). Propagation may be either by seeds or from dormant buds on the rhizome. The taxon is cultivated best in aquaria with the substrate consisting of a mixture of sand and Sphagnum. The species is sensitive to hard water, prefers a temperature between 18° and 25°C, and not too much light (Mühlberg, 1980; De Wit, 1971). -
Objects
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Distribution
From the northern United States to Mexico, the Caribbean Island, and Central America; also, Venezuela, Guyana, Ecuador, and Peru. Flowering and fruiting year round; sea level to 800 m elev.
Mexico North America| Baja California Mexico North America| Chihuahua Mexico North America| Coahuila Mexico North America| Colima Mexico North America| Guerrero Mexico North America| Michoacán Mexico North America| Nuevo León Mexico North America| San Luis Potosí Mexico North America| Sonora Mexico North America| Tamaulipas Mexico North America| Veracruz Mexico North America| Yucatán Mexico North America| Bahamas South America| Cat Island Bahamas South America| Cuba South America| Camagüey Cuba South America| La Habana Cuba South America| Matanzas Cuba South America| Jamaica South America| Saint Catherine Jamaica South America| Saint Mary Jamaica South America| Haiti South America| Dominican Republic South America| Puerto Rico South America| Virgin Islands South America| Saint Croix Virgin Islands of the United States South America|