CALLITRICHE TRUNCATA

Including: Callitriche pulchra.

Family and Genus:- See- PLANTAGINACEAE

Common Names:- Short leaved water starwort

Homotypic Synonyms:- Callitriche aquatica subsp. Truncata, Callitriche

autumnalis subsp. Truncata, Callitriche hermaphroditica subsp.Truncata,

Callitriche palustris var. truncata.

Meaning:- Callitriche (Gr) Beautiful-hair.

Truncata (L) Cut off, blunt ended.

General description:- Submerged, amphibious herb, with axillary glandular

scales.

Leaves:-

1) All leaves submerged.

a) ± transparent, dark green when fresh, 5-9 x c.1 mm, with free bases.

b) ± parallel-sided, truncate or shallowly emarginate at the apex.

Flowers:-

1) Styles, long, erect at first, soon withering, patent or deflexed, deciduous.

Fruit:-

1) 1-1.2 x 1.3-1 .6 mm.

2) Subsessile or short-pedunculate, narrowly winged on the outer edge, forming a

cross when viewed from above.

3) Mericarps, not or only narrowly winged

Key features:-

1) Leaf bases not jointed.

2) No peltate scales, present on the stem and leaves

3) Leaves, parallel-sided.

4) Fruits, subsessile

Click here for a glossary of terms used.

Habitat:- Freshwater pools and artificial ponds,0-1100 m.

Distribution:- A few records also from W Greece. Plants from W Crete (Omalos

plain) have been reported as subsp. Occidentalis; other Greek records are

uncertain as to subsp. ¹⁾ - W Europe and Medit. Area eastwards to W Anatolia and

Syria.

1) "Atlas of the Aegean Flora" Book 1 Arne Strid 2016.

Flowering time:- April-June.

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CALLITRICHE PULCHARA Back to Top

Homotypic Synonyms:- None

Meaning:- Pulchara (L) Rolled up, crowded.

Resembling C. truncata, but differering in the following characters

1) Leaves, linear-lanceolate, widest at the base.

2) Fruits, on recurved peduncles, somewhat larger (1.4-1.8 x 1.6-2.2 mm),

compressed, rather broadly winged.

Distribution:- Reported only from seasonal karstic rock pools on the island of

Gavdos.

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