Luronium
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| Luronium natans | |
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| Scientific classification | |
| Kingdom: | Plantae |
| (unranked): | Angiosperms |
| (unranked): | Monocots |
| Order: | Alismatales |
| Family: | Alismataceae |
| Genus: | Luronium Raf. |
| Species: | L. natans |
| Binomial name | |
| Luronium natans (L.) Raf. |
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| Synonyms | |
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Luronium natans is a species of aquatic plant commonly known as the Floating Water-plantain.
[edit] Description
Stems elongated, rising in the water or creeping and rooting at the nodes. Submerged leaves (if present) basal, linear; floating or aerial leaves elliptical to ovate. Flowers hermaphrodite, long-pedunculate in the axils of the floating or aerial leaves. Stamens 6. Carpels 6 - 15 in an irregular whorl, free, each with 1 ovule; styles apical. Fruitlets achenial, longitudinally many-ribbed, with a short apical beak. 2n=42.
[edit] Ecology
Acid ponds or canals. Declining.
In 2009 it featured on a first class Royal Mail stamp in the series "Endangered Plants". It is said to have "spread eastwards from its core natural habitats in the lakes of Snowdonia and mid Wales in the 19th century, taking advantage of the canal network. In recent decades, however, pollution and recreational boating have led to its disappearance from many lowland waterways".[1]
