Potamogeton

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Potamogeton
PotamogetonPerfoliatus2.jpg
Potamogeton perfoliatus
Scientific classification OOjs UI icon edit-ltr.svg
Kingdom: Plantae
Clade: Tracheophytes
Clade: Angiosperms
Clade: Monocots
Order: Alismatales
Family: Potamogetonaceae
Genus: Potamogeton
L.
Species

80–100, see text

Potamogeton is a genus of aquatic, mostly freshwater, plants of the family Potamogetonaceae. Most are known by the common name pondweed, although many unrelated plants may be called pondweed, such as Canadian pondweed (Elodea canadensis). The genus name means "river neighbor", originating from the Greek potamos (river) and geiton (neighbor). [1] [2]

Contents

Morphology

Potamogeton species range from large (stems of 6 m or more) to very small (less than 10 cm). Height is strongly influenced by environmental conditions, particularly water depth. All species are technically perennial, but some species disintegrate in autumn to a large number of asexually produced resting buds called turions, which serve both as a means of overwintering and dispersal. Turions may be borne on the rhizome, on the stem, or on stolons from the rhizome. Most species, however, persist by perennial creeping rhizomes. In some cases the turions are the only means to differentiate species. [3]

The leaves are alternate, which contrasts with the closely related genus Groenlandia , where the leaves are opposite or whorled. In many species, all the leaves are submerged, and in these cases, they are typically thin and translucent. Some species, especially in ponds and very slow-moving waters, have floating leaves which tend to be opaque with a leathery texture. Leaf shape has been found to be highly plastic, with variability due to changes in light, water chemistry, planting depth, sediment conditions, temperature, photo period, waves, and seasonality. [4] All Potamogeton have a delicate membranous sheathing scale, the stipule, at the leaf axil. This may be wholly attached, partly attached, or free of the leaf, and it may have inrolled margins or appear as a tube. The morphology of the stipule is an important character for species identification. The stems have small scales.

The flowers, which are often overlooked, are greenish-brown and are composed of four rounded segments borne in a spike. They are 2-4 merous, with superior ovaries and anthers that turn outward. The fruits are spheroidal and green to brown, usually 1–3 mm in diameter, with a noticeable 'beak'. Their pollen is inaperturate, monad, apolar and spherical. [5]

Most fine-leaved pondweeds are diploid, with 2n = 26 (such as P. pusillus or P. trichoides ) or less commonly 28 ( P. compressus , P. acutifolius ). [6] Broad-leaved taxa are mainly tetraploid, with 2n = 52 (e.g. P. alpinus , P. praelongus ), but a few species are diploid (e.g. P. coloratus or octaploid (2n = 104)(e.g. P. illinoensis ). [6]

Taxonomy

Potamogeton is a genus of freshwater aquatic plants in the Potamogetonaceae. Molecular analysis has identified Groenlandia as the sister group to Potamogeton, [7] [8] although the Angiosperm Phylogeny Group also lists Zannichellia, Althenia and Pseudoalthenia as closely related genera. [9] Some researchers have used molecular analysis [8] and pollen grain shape [10] to argue for the placement of Stuckenia at the genus level, but others have argued there is not enough difference to justify the change, and have kept Stuckenia as a subgenus of Potamogeton. [7]

The genus is generally divided into two groups: broad-leaved and linear-leaved. The broad-leaved group includes such species as P. natans, P. perfoliatus and P. alpinus. [11] The linear-leaved group includes such species as P. rutilus, P. compressus and P. berchtoldii. Series Batrachoseris historically contained only one species, Potamogeton crispus, [11] however more recent research has also added P. maackianus and P. robbinsii into this grouping. [7] These general divisions have been supported by molecular analysis, except that P. crispus clusters with broad-leaved species in section Potamogeton. [12]

In a detailed review of the genus, Wiegleb and Kaplan [13] recognised 69 species, but the variability of many species means that there is disagreement regarding the exact number of species. Currently, the number of accepted names is 94. [14] Hybridisation provides an added complexity to the taxonomy.

Distribution

Potamogeton species are found worldwide in many aquatic ecosystems. However, the greatest diversity of species occurs in the northern hemisphere, especially in North America, which is thought to be where the genus originated. Molecular evidence suggests that several independent colonizations of the southern hemisphere have occurred. [12] However, due to their self-propagation from turions, Potamogeton populations show very low infrapopulation diversity, [15] especially when living in deep, shaded or turbulent water where colonies do not expend energy on flowers. This has made it very difficult to use genetic data to find patterns of geographical differentiation. [15]

Potamegeton coloratus from a peat bog in Konkan Maharashtra State of India Potamegeton coloratus from a peat bog.jpg
Potamegeton coloratus from a peat bog in Konkan Maharashtra State of India

Hybrids

Potamogeton species hybridise freely. At least 27 hybrids have been observed in the British Isles alone, [11] and more than 50 worldwide, [13] of which 36 have been confirmed using genetic techniques. [16] The majority of these are sterile, but many are long-lived and may occur in the absence of one or even both parents. [11] Most hybrids have been described between broad-leaved species, but this probably reflects the relative scarcity of characters among fine-leaved taxa, so that hybrids are much more difficult to identify. Use of genetic markers suggests that hybrid taxa are also reasonably frequent among fine-leaved species. [17] At least one species, P. obtusifolius , is thought to have arisen via hybridisation. [18]

Taxonomic history

Several species of European pondweeds, including P. natans, P. lucens and P. crispus, were included in Linnaeus's Species Plantarum in 1753. Much of the European Potamogeton flora was subsequently named during the late 18th and early 19th century. As botanists ventured further afield, pondweeds began to be collected and named from other parts of the world. The North America flora was largely named by the start of the 20th century. Alfred Fryer became interested in Potamogeton in the 1880s, and was a recognised authority on the genus. [19] The first parts of his work The Potamogetons (Pond Weeds) of the British Isles were published in 1898. His death intervened, and the work was completed by Arthur Bennett (1843-1929), who named a large number of specimens sent to him from around the world. Robert Morgan (1863-1900) illustrated Fryer's contribution to the monograph, his colour plates drawing praise from later critics. [20] [21]

In 1916, Johan Hagström published Critical researches on the Potamogetons from detailed measurements of dozens of vegetative, anatomical and reproductive characteristics such as fruit beak, peduncle rigidity and leaf apex across hundreds of specimens. [22] It was a pioneering work that preceded the development of cladistics by more than 30 years, [23] and his clustering of groups into broad-leaf and linear-leaf is still considered the framework for all subsequent classification systems of Potamogeton. Hagström's work was developed further by Merritt Fernald (1873-1950) who created a detailed phylogeny for the linear-leaved species, [24] and by Eugene Ogden who did so for the broad-leaved species. [25]

New species continue to be described from less well-studied areas such as Asia and Africa, and it is possible that molecular analysis may reveal hitherto unknown cryptic species.

List of Potamogeton species

The following list is based on the latest listing of valid Potamogeton taxa held on The Plant List. [14]

List of Potamogeton hybrids

List source : [14]

Ecology

Reproduction of pondweeds occurs both vegetatively and by seed, though studies suggest that in some species or situations reproduction by seed is rare. [26] [11] The fruits may be produced in large quantities from midsumer onwards, and are ingested by waterfowl. Germination experiments have shown that the seeds are viable after passing through the digestive tracts of birds and this mechanism is probably the only natural mechanism for long-distance dispersal between isolated water bodies. Vegetative propagation occurs by a variety of mechanisms including turions, and via growth and fragmentation of rhizomes and shoots. Vegetative reproduction is evidently an effective means of ensuring local persistence, as sterile hybrids have been recorded at some sites for over 100 years.

Although they occur in a range of environments, most species prefer standing or slow-flowing waters with some calcium and fairly low nutrient levels. In general the fine-leaved species are more tolerant of human impacts such as eutrophication. [27] [28] They are important as food and habitat for animals including insect larvae, water snails, ducks and other waterfowl, and aquatic mammals such as beavers. [2] [29]

Most species are not weedy, but a few can become troublesome, such as curly-leaf pondweed (Potamogeton crispus). [30]

In relation to the ecosystem as a whole, Potamogeton is often a common habitat for insects. For example, C. annularius and other insects from the Chironomus genera have been found to inhabit and mate around certain species of Potamogeton. The closeness to a fresh water source as well as cover from predators allows C. annularius to thrive.

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Potamogetonaceae</span> Family of aquatic plants

The Potamogetonaceae, commonly referred to as the pondweed family, is an aquatic family of monocotyledonous flowering plants. The roughly 110 known species are divided over six genera. The largest genus in the family by far is Potamogeton, which contains about 100 species.

<i>Potamogeton crispus</i> Species of aquatic plant

Potamogeton crispus, the crisp-leaved pondweed, curly pondweed, curly-leaf pondweed or curled pondweed, is a species of aquatic plant (hydrophyte) native to Eurasia but an introduced species and often a noxious weed in North America.

<i>Potamogeton perfoliatus</i> Species of aquatic plant

Potamogeton perfoliatus is a perennial aquatic plant in the family Potamogetonaceae occurring in both standing and flowing freshwater habitats. It is widely distributed globally, occurring in all continents except South America and Antarctica.

<i>Potamogeton praelongus</i> Species of flowering plant

Potamogeton praelongus, commonly known as whitestem pondweed in North America and long-stalked pondweed in Britain, is a large, perennial aquatic plant in the family Potamogetonaceae. It is widely distributed in lakes and rivers in the northern hemisphere, but is sensitive to poor water quality.

<i>Potamogeton polygonifolius</i> Species of aquatic plant

Potamogeton polygonifolius or bog pondweed, is an aquatic plant. It is found in shallow, nutrient-poor, usually acid standing or running water, bogs, fens and occasionally ditches.

<i>Potamogeton coloratus</i> Species of aquatic plant

Potamogeton coloratus, the fen pondweed, is an aquatic plant in the genus Potamogeton. It is found in shallow peaty calcareous lakes, ponds and ditches, commonly associated with lowland fens.

<i>Potamogeton lucens</i> Species of aquatic plant

Potamogeton lucens, or shining pondweed, is an aquatic perennial plant native to Eurasia and North Africa. It grows in relatively deep, still or slow-flowing, calcareous freshwater habitats.

<i>Potamogeton alpinus</i> Species of flowering plant

Potamogeton alpinus is a species of perennial aquatic plant known by the common names alpine pondweed and red pondweed. It is widespread in the northern hemisphere in both rivers and lakes with good water quality.

<i>Potamogeton diversifolius</i> Species of aquatic plant

Potamogeton diversifolius is a species of aquatic plant known by the common names waterthread pondweed and diverse-leaved pondweed. It is native to most of the United States, as well as sections of southwestern Canada, and northern Mexico, where it grows in water bodies such as ponds, lakes, ditches, and slow-moving streams. This is a perennial herb producing a very narrow, compressed stem branching to a maximum length around 35 centimeters. It has thin, pointed linear leaves a few centimeters long spirally arranged about the thin stem. The inflorescence is a small spike of flowers emerging from the water surface. Inflorescences also grow on submersed sections of the stem; these are smaller and spherical. It can be difficult to distinguish from similar species of pondweed.

<i>Potamogeton epihydrus</i> Species of aquatic plant

Potamogeton epihydrus is a perennial aquatic plant known by the common names ribbonleaf pondweed and Nuttall's pondweed, and American pondweed in the United Kingdom. It is native to much of North America, where it grows in water bodies such as ponds, lakes, ditches, and slow-moving streams.

<i>Potamogeton gramineus</i> Species of aquatic plant

Potamogeton gramineus is a species of aquatic plant known by the common name various-leaved pondweed, variableleaf pondweed, grass-leaved pondweed or grassy pondweed, native to the northern hemisphere where it grows in shallow, clean water.

<i>Potamogeton pusillus</i> Species of aquatic plant

Potamogeton pusillus is a species of aquatic plant known by the common names small pondweed, lesser pondweed or least pondweed. It occurs in standing and slow-flowing freshwater habitats throughout the Northern Hemisphere.

<i>Potamogeton compressus</i> Species of aquatic plant

Potamogeton compressus is a species of aquatic plant known by the common names grass-wrack pondweed, flatstem pondweed and eel-grass pondweed.

<i>Potamogeton obtusifolius</i> Species of aquatic plant

Potamogeton obtusifolius, known as blunt-leaved pondweed, is an aquatic plant in the genus Potamogeton. It grows mainly in mesotrophic to eutrophic lakes, ponds and ditches, rarely in brackish water. It occurs primarily in Central Europe, the British Isles, Fennoscandia and eastern North America.

<i>Stuckenia</i> Genus of flowering plants

Stuckenia is a genus of flowering aquatic plants. It contains approximately 30 species that grow in shallow water. Pondweed is a common name for plants in this genus.

<i>Potamogeton berchtoldii</i> Species of plant

Potamogeton berchtoldii, common name small pondweed is an aquatic plant.

<i>Potamogeton acutifolius</i> Species of plant

Potamogeton acutifolius is a European species of aquatic plant in the family Potamogetonaceae, known by the common name sharp-leaved pondweed. It is threatened and declining in at least part of its range.

<i>Potamogeton trichoides</i> Species of aquatic plant

Potamogeton trichoides is a species of aquatic plant known by the common name hairlike pondweed, native to Europe and western Asia where it grows in calcareous, usually nutrient-rich standing or slow-flowing water.

<i>Potamogeton <span style="font-style:normal;">×</span> angustifolius</i> Species of flowering plant

Potamogeton × angustifolius is a hybrid pondweed between Potamogeton gramineus and Potamogeton lucens, known as long-leaved pondweed. It is widespread in rivers and lakes except where the water is very soft.

<i>Potamogeton friesii</i> Species of aquatic plant

Potamogeton friesii, known as flat-stalked pondweed, or Fries' pondweed, is an aquatic plant in the genus Potamogeton. It grows mainly in mesotrophic to eutrophic rivers, lakes, ponds and ditches, rarely in brackish water. It occurs in North America, Europe, western Asia and a few scattered locations elsewhere in Asia.

References

  1. ↑ Thorne, R.F. (2012). "Jepson Manual treatment for Potamogetonaceae (Pondweed Family)". Jepson Manual Online. University & Jepson Herbaria; Regents of the University of California . Retrieved January 6, 2012.
  2. 1 2 "Potamogeton". Flora of North America. 22. Retrieved January 6, 2012.
  3. ↑ Les, Donald H.; Murray, Nancy M.; Tippery, Nicholas P. (2009-12-01). "Systematics of Two Imperiled Pondweeds (Potamogeton vaseyi, P. gemmiparus) and Taxonomic Ramifications for Subsection Pusilli (Potamogetonaceae)". Systematic Botany. 34 (4): 643–651. doi:10.1600/036364409790139727. S2CID   52997789.
  4. ↑ Kaplan, Zdenek (2002-06-01). "Phenotypic plasticity inPotamogeton (Potamogetonaceae)". Folia Geobotanica. 37 (2): 141–170. doi:10.1007/bf02804229. ISSN   1211-9520. S2CID   25844796.
  5. ↑ SORSA, PENTTI (1988). "Pollen morphology of Potamogeton and Groenlandia (Potamogetonaceae) and its taxonomic significance". Annales Botanici Fennici. 25 (2): 179–199. JSTOR   23725722.
  6. 1 2 Kaplan Z., Jarolímová V., Fehrer J, 2013. Revision of chromosome numbers of Potamogetonaceae: a new basis for taxonomic and evolutionary implications. Preslia, 85, 421-482.
  7. 1 2 3 Lindqvist, Charlotte; De Laet, Jan; Haynes, Robert R.; Aagesen, Lone; Keener, Brian R.; Albert, Victor A. (2006-12-01). "Molecular phylogenetics of an aquatic plant lineage, Potamogetonaceae". Cladistics. 22 (6): 568–588. doi: 10.1111/j.1096-0031.2006.00124.x . ISSN   1096-0031. S2CID   86085070.
  8. 1 2 Iida, Satoko; Kosuge, Keiko; Kadono, Yasuro (2004). "Molecular phylogeny of Japanese Potamogeton species in light of noncoding chloroplast sequences". Aquatic Botany. 80 (2): 115–127. doi:10.1016/j.aquabot.2004.08.005.
  9. ↑ "Angiosperm Phylogeny Website". www.mobot.org. Retrieved 2017-12-07.
  10. ↑ Zhang, Xiao-lin; Gituru, Robert W.; Yang, Chun-feng; Guo, You-hao (2009). "Variations of floral traits among different life forms illustrate the evolution of pollination systems in Potamogeton species from China". Aquatic Botany. 90 (2): 124–128. doi:10.1016/j.aquabot.2008.07.006.
  11. 1 2 3 4 5 Preston C.D. (1995). Pondweeds of Great Britain and Ireland. BSBI Handbook No. 8. Botanical Society of the British Isles, London.
  12. 1 2 Lindqvist C., De Laet J., Haynes R.R., Aagesen L., Keener B.R., Albert V.A. 2006. Molecular phylogenetics of an aquatic plant lineage, Potamogetonaceae. Cladistics, 22, 568-588.
  13. 1 2 Wiegleb G., Kaplan Z. 1998. An account of the species of Potamogeton L. Folia Geobotanica, 33, 241-316
  14. 1 2 3 "Potamogeton". The Plant List; Version 1.1 (published on the internet). Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew and Missouri Botanical Garden. 2010. Retrieved November 16, 2014.
  15. 1 2 Kaplan, Z.; Štěpánek, J. (2003-06-01). "Genetic variation within and between populations of Potamogeton pusillus agg". Plant Systematics and Evolution. 239 (1–2): 95–112. CiteSeerX   10.1.1.491.3110 . doi:10.1007/s00606-002-0252-7. ISSN   0378-2697. S2CID   27736044.
  16. ↑ Ito, Y., and Nr. Tanaka (2013) Additional Potamogeton hybrids from China: Evidence from a comparison of plastid trnT–trnF and nuclear ITS phylogenies. APG: Acta Phytotaxonomica et Geobotanica64 (1): 1–14
  17. ↑ Zalewska-Galosz J., Ronikier M. 2010. Are linear-leaved Potamogeton hybrids really so rare? Molecular evidence for multiple hybridizations between P. acutifolius and P.compressus in Central Europe. Nordic Journal of Botany, 28, 257-261.
  18. ↑ Wang Q.D., Zhang T., Wang J.B. 2007. Phylogenetic relationships and hybrid origin of Potamogeton species (Potamogetonaceae) distributed in China: insights from the nuclear ribosomal internal transcribed spacer sequence (ITS). Plant Systematics and Evolution, 267, 65-78.
  19. ↑ Preston C.D. 1988. The Potamogeton L. species and hybrids described by Alfred Fryer. Watsonia, 17 23-35.
  20. ↑ "BSBI Archive". www.watsonia.org.uk. Retrieved 2017-02-01.
  21. ↑ "Fryer, Alfred (1826 – 1912)". Archived from the original on 2012-03-03. Retrieved 2012-03-01.
  22. ↑ Hagström, Johan Oskar (1916). Details - Critical researches on the potamogetons - Biodiversity Heritage Library. Almqvist & Wiksells Boktryckeri-A.-B. doi:10.5962/bhl.title.50448.
  23. ↑ Les, Donald H.; Sheridan, Donna J.; Hagström (1990). "Hagström's Concept of Phylogenetic Relationships in Potamogeton L. (Potamogetonaceae)". Taxon. 39 (1): 41–58. doi:10.2307/1223179. JSTOR   1223179.
  24. ↑ Fernald, M. L. (1932). "The Linear-Leaved North American Species of Potamogeton, Section Axillares". Memoirs of the American Academy of Arts and Sciences. 17 (1): 1–183. doi:10.2307/25058195. JSTOR   25058195.
  25. ↑ Ogden, Eugene (1943). "The broad-leaved species of Potamogeton of North America North of Mexico". Contributions from the Gray Herbarium of Harvard University. 147: 57–105, 119–163, 171–216.
  26. ↑ Brux H., Todeskino D, Wiegleb G. 1987. Growth and reproduction of Potamogeton alpinus Balbis growing in disturbed habitats. Archiv für Hydrobiologie, 27, 115-127.
  27. ↑ UK Water Framework Directive Technical Advisory Group (UKTAG). 2014. UKTAG River Assessment Method: Macrophytes and Phytobenthos: Macrophytes (River LEAFPACS2). ISBN   978-1-906934-44-6. Available online at River Leafpacs
  28. ↑ UK Water Framework Directive Technical Advisory Group (UKTAG). 2014. UKTAG Lake Assessment Method: Macrophytes and Phytobenthos: Macrophytes (Lake LEAFPACS2). ISBN   978-1-906934-45-3. Available online at Lakes Leafpacs
  29. ↑ "Pondweeds: Potamogeton species". Center for Aquatic and Invasive Plants; University of Florida / IFAS. 2011. Archived from the original on February 17, 2010. Retrieved January 6, 2012.
  30. ↑ "Curly leaf pondweed: Potamogeton crispus L." Center for Invasive Species and Ecosystem Health. May 4, 2010. Retrieved January 6, 2012.
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