Echinodorus aschersonianus Graebn.
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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. Uruguay. Osten 3249 (n.v.; photo of type, MO!).
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Synonyms
Echinodorus aschersonianus var. nulliglandulosus Rataj, Echinodorus grandiflorus var. pusillus Micheli
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Description
Species Description - Perennial, from short rhizomes, glabrous, 5085 cm tall. Leaves emersed, greenish-brown, petiolate; blades lanceolate to ovate, entire, with 3-7 veins, 2.3-14.1 cm long, 0.5-4.1 cm wide, the pellucid markings absent, the apex round to acute, the base cordate to attenuate; petiole flattened, unwinged, equal to or slightly longer than blade, 1.1-26.5 cm long, 0.9-2.5 mm diam., the base with a sheath to 11.3 cm long. Inflorescence racemose, of 1-8 whorls, erect to slightly decumbent, overtopping the leaves, without vegetative proliferations, 5-25 cm long, to 5 cm wide, the whorls with 3-5 flowers, the rachis terete, ridged between whorls; peduncles terete, ridged, 6.5-23 cm long, 0.6-2 mm diam.; bracts lanceolate, delicate, shorter than pedicels, 0.4-3.5 cm long, ca. 5 mm wide, the apex acute; pedicels spreading in flower and fruit, terete, ridged, 0.4-1.7 cm long, 0.3-0.5 mm diam. Flowers 2.5-4 cm wide; sepals spreading, 11-15-veined, 4-5.1 cm long, 2.8-3 mm wide, the veins without papillae; petals without claws, 1.5-2.3 cm long, 0.6-0.9 cm wide; stamens ca. 21, the anthers versatile, to 1.1 mm long, the apex rounded, the filaments to 1.5 mm long; carpels numerous. Fruit obovate, terete, 3-4-ribbed, slightly keeled, glandular or eglandular, separating when mature, 1-1.5 mm long, 0.6-0.9 mm wide, the glands 0-1, elliptical, between ribs, the beak lateral, erect, ca. 0.5 mm long.
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Discussion
No commercial name is known. Propagation is by adventitious plantlets on the inflorescence. The species is suited for medium to large sized aquaria, and needs a medium to strong light and a substrate fairly rich in nutrients. Optimum temperature is 20°-25° C. Flowering can be induced by increasing the day length to more than 12 hours illumination (Mühlberg, 1980).
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Distribution
Southern Brazil, Paraguay, and Argentina. Flowering and fruiting September to May; elevation not indicated.
Brazil South America| Minas Gerais Brazil South America| São Paulo Brazil South America| Paraguay South America| Argentina South America| Buenos Aires Argentina South America| Santa Fé Argentina South America|