Callitriche

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Callitriche
Illustration Callitriche palustris0.jpg
Water-starwort (Callitriche palustris) from Thomé
Flora von Deutschland, Österreich und der Schweiz 1885
Scientific classification Red Pencil Icon.png
Kingdom: Plantae
Clade: Angiosperms
Clade: Eudicots
Clade: Asterids
Order: Lamiales
Family: Plantaginaceae
Tribe: Callitricheae
Genus:Callitriche
L. (1753)
Species

See text

Callitriche is a genus of largely aquatic plants known as water-starwort. Previously, it was the only genus in the family Callitrichaceae. However, according to the APG II system this family is now included in the Plantaginaceae (plantain family). The family name Callitrichaceae retains its status as nomen conservandum (name to be retained).

A genus is a taxonomic rank used in the biological classification of living and fossil organisms, as well as viruses, in biology. In the hierarchy of biological classification, genus comes above species and below family. In binomial nomenclature, the genus name forms the first part of the binomial species name for each species within the genus.

The Angiosperm Phylogeny Group, or APG, is an informal international group of systematic botanists who collaborate to establish a consensus on the taxonomy of flowering plants (angiosperms) that reflects new knowledge about plant relationships discovered through phylogenetic studies.

Plantaginaceae family of plants

Plantaginaceae, the plantain family, is a family of flowering plants in the order Lamiales. In older classifications it used to be the only family of the order Plantaginales, but numerous phylogenetic studies, summarized by the Angiosperm Phylogeny Group, have demonstrated that this taxon should be included within Lamiales.

Contents

Species

Callitriche antarctica, commonly known as the Antarctic water-starwort, is a small, prostrate plant with tiny yellow flowers in the family Plantaginaceae. It is found in wet places on many subantarctic islands and has a wide circumantarctic distribution, something reflected in its specific epithet.

<i>Callitriche brutia</i> species of plant

Callitriche brutia, the pedunculate water-starwort, is a submerged/floating-leaved aquatic plant in the family Plantaginaceae. It is found in aquatic environments in Europe.

Callitriche christensenii is a species of plant in the family Plantaginaceae. It is endemic to Saint Helena. Its natural habitats are rivers, freshwater marshes, and freshwater springs.

Phylogeny and evolution

The first molecular phylogeny of the aquatic genus of 50 species discerned three clades: Clade A (three species, widespread); Clade C (10 species, New World); Clade D (six species, Europe). [3] The parsimony analyses revealed that aneuploid reduction (n=5 to 4) and polyploidy (n=5 to 10) have evolved at least twice in the genus, whereas the obligately submersed growth habit and hypohydrophily have evolved once. [3]

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<i>Luronium</i> species of plant

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Polyceridae family of molluscs

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Lymnaeidae family of molluscs

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<i>Callitriche stagnalis</i> species of plant

Callitriche stagnalis is a perennial aquatic vascular plant species. Also known as pond water-starwort, C. stagnalis, may thrive in a variety of aquatic and subaquatic habitats, specially those exhibiting slowly moving to non-moving water. Although C. stagnalis does not pose a threat to humans, its reproductive rate may pose a threat to native vegetation. Resulting dense vegetative mats frequently out-compete species in native communities.

<i>Chara</i> (alga) genus of algae

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<i>Rivularia</i> genus of Cyanobacteria

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<i>Callitriche verna</i> species of plant

Callitriche verna is a submerged/floating-leaved aquatic plant in the family Plantaginaceae. It is found in aquatic environments in North America.

<i>Potamogeton trichoides</i> species of plant

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References

Integrated Taxonomic Information System Authoritative taxonomic information on plants, animals, fungi, and microbes

The Integrated Taxonomic Information System (ITIS) is an American partnership of federal agencies designed to provide consistent and reliable information on the taxonomy of biological species. ITIS was originally formed in 1996 as an interagency group within the US federal government, involving several US federal agencies, and has now become an international body, with Canadian and Mexican government agencies participating. The database draws from a large community of taxonomic experts. Primary content staff are housed at the Smithsonian National Museum of Natural History and IT services are provided by a US Geological Survey facility in Denver. The primary focus of ITIS is North American species, but many biological groups exist worldwide and ITIS collaborates with other agencies to increase its global coverage.

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Further reading