Lythraceae

Rotala L.

First published in Mant. Pl. 2: 143 (1771)
This genus is accepted
The native range of this genus is Tropics & Subtropics to N. America.

Descriptions

Lythraceae, A. Fernandes. Flora Zambesiaca 4. 1978

Morphology General Habit
Annual or rarely perennial glabrous herbs, aquatic or in marshy places.
Morphology Stem
Stems terete or 4-gonous, striate, often rooting at the nodes.
Morphology Leaves
Leaves decussate or verticillate, rarely alternate, sessile or subsessile.
Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers
Flowers small, actinomorphic, homostylous or heterostylous, 3–6-merous, axillary, solitary, or in terminal racemes or spikes, very rarely in axillary umbels; bracteoles 2, rarely absent.
Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers Calyx
Calyx-tube semiglobose, campanulate or urceolate-tubular, scarious, very rarely herbaceous, the lobes triangular, alternating with ± developed appendages or these often absent; nectariferous ring present at base.
Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers Corolla
Petals persistent, sometimes caducous or absent, equal or unequal.
Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers Androecium Stamens
Stamens 1-6, opposite to the sepals.
Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers Gynoecium Pistil
Ovary sessile or substipitate, incompletely 2–4-locular (dissepiments interrupted above the placentas); ovules ± numerous, small; style absent or ± developed, simple.
Morphology Reproductive morphology Fruits
Capsule septicidally 2–4-valved, cartilaginous, the walls horizontally striate (under the microscope).
Morphology Reproductive morphology Seeds
Seeds small, concave-convex.
[FZ]

Lythraceae, B. Verdcourt. Flora of Tropical East Africa. 1984

Morphology General Habit
Aquatic, amphibious or terrestrial annual or perennial glabrous herbs with creeping to erect or floating stems
Morphology Leaves
Leaves opposite, whorled or rarely alternate, simple, entire, sessile or rarely shortly petiolate; stipules absent
Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers
Flowers regular, hermaphrodite, solitary in leaf-axils (bracts) along the main axis or in lateral or terminal racemes, sometimes heterostylous, occasionally cleistogamous; bracteoles 2 (rarely more in one non-African species) or absent
Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers Calyx
Calyx tubular, often enclosing the ovary; lobes 3–6, valvate, persistent; appendages or folds sometimes present between the lobes
Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers Corolla
Petals up to 6, minute to large and showy or sometimes absent, inserted at top of calyx-tube, usually crumpled in bud, entire, erose or pinnately divided in one species
Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers Androecium Stamens
Stamens 1–6, inserted in lower half of calyx-tube, sometimes basal and appearing free, occasionally replaced by staminodes
Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers Gynoecium Pistil
Ovary superior, 2–4-locular; placentation axile, becoming free-central at maturity; style simple, persistent on one fruit valve; stigma capitate (bilobed in one Indian species)
Morphology Reproductive morphology Fruits
Capsule septicidally dehiscent by 2–4 valves; valves with microscopic horizontal striations
Morphology Reproductive morphology Seeds
Seeds few–numerous, ± ellipsoidal, with mucilaginous hairs.
[FTEA]

Sources

  • Flora Zambesiaca

    • Flora Zambesiaca
    • http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-sa/3.0

  • Flora of Tropical East Africa

    • Flora of Tropical East Africa
    • http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-sa/3.0

  • Herbarium Catalogue Specimens

    • 'The Herbarium Catalogue, Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew. Published on the Internet http://www.kew.org/herbcat [accessed on Day Month Year]'. Please enter the date on which you consulted the system.

  • Kew Backbone Distributions

    • The International Plant Names Index and World Checklist of Vascular Plants 2026. Published on the Internet at http://www.ipni.org and https://powo.science.kew.org/
    • © Copyright 2023 World Checklist of Vascular Plants. http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0

  • Kew Names and Taxonomic Backbone

    • The International Plant Names Index and World Checklist of Vascular Plants 2026. Published on the Internet at http://www.ipni.org and https://powo.science.kew.org/
    • © Copyright 2023 International Plant Names Index and World Checklist of Vascular Plants. http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0