Callitriche brutia | |
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Scientific classification | |
Kingdom: | Plantae |
Clade: | Tracheophytes |
Clade: | Angiosperms |
Clade: | Eudicots |
Clade: | Asterids |
Order: | Lamiales |
Family: | Plantaginaceae |
Genus: | Callitriche |
Species: | C. brutia |
Binomial name | |
Callitriche brutia Petagna (1787) | |
Callitriche brutia, the pedunculate water-starwort, is a dwarf amphibious annual or perennial dicotyledon herb in the genus Callitriche. The common name of this species is water starwort. It colonizes aquatic environments, such as wetlands, lakes, rivers, streams, and pools, and it grows in oligotrophic conditions, meaning it grows in an environment that has little to sustain life. Pedunculate water-starwort was found in Ireland and England, but is now an invasive species due to its resistance to environmental stressors, and its ability to grow in still water.
Callitriche brutia is a long plant that can be seen with many rounded leaves across its stem. It has a bundle of leaves at the top, in a flower-like shape. It can often be seen growing in large amounts in a single area. It often grows directly in water, or very damp areas. [1]
The habitats ranges from ephemeral pools, lakes and canals to fast-flowing upland rivers Europe-wide. [2] This species can be found in ditches, ponds, wetlands, and in shallow waters of lake margins and drains. The Callitriche bruita is most abundant in the upland regions of Britain and Ireland, as well as areas in the New Forest (South Hampshire) and the Lizard Peninsula (West Cornwall).
Callitriche brutia is known to use rhizofiltration during phytoremediation. Rhizofiltration is a type of phytoremediation in which excess nutrients or toxic substances are filtered out of waste water, surface water, and contaminated groundwater using a mass of roots.
High concentrations, about 523 mg/kg, of arsenic (As) are found submerged in Callitriche brutia. A common metalloid in nature, arsenic (As) can be found in rocks and minerals, soils, natural waters, the atmosphere, and organisms. Arsenic can exist in the environment in a range of chemical forms with varying levels of toxicity, mobility, and bioavailability.
Similar species, such as Callitriche lusitanica and Callitriche stagnalis, have arsenic (As) and uranium (U) phytoremediators.
Pendunculate water-starwort is an annual and perennial plant. Annual plants germinate, flower, reproduce, and die in one season, whereas perennial plants grow for many years. The Callitriche brutia reproduces asexually and sexually. Asexually, the plants break apart, and grow whole new plants out of the broken fragments. This kind of asexual reproduction is called fragmentation. Sexually, the plants reproduce via pollination of the male stamen and fertilization of the female pistil, in which it will produce a zygote.
Callitriche brutia is an aquatic herb. They have complex-whorled leaves, and do not have petioles. This species has linear veins on its leaves, and has thick stems. They are smooth and hairless.
Callitriche brutia flower in May, June, July, August, and September. The flowers appear green with no petals.
A marsh is — according to ecological definitions — a wetland that is dominated by herbaceous rather than woody plant species. More in general, the word can be used for any low-lying and seasonally waterlogged terrain. In Europe and in agricultural literature low-lying meadows that require draining and embanked polderlands are also referred to as marshes or marshland.
Vernal pools, also called vernal ponds or ephemeral pools, are seasonal pools of water that provide habitat for distinctive plants and animals. They are considered to be a distinctive type of wetland usually devoid of fish, and thus allow the safe development of natal amphibian and insect species unable to withstand competition or predation by fish. Certain tropical fish lineages have however adapted to this habitat specifically.
Myriophyllum aquaticum is a flowering plant, a vascular dicot, commonly called parrot's-feather and parrot feather watermilfoil.
Luronium natans is a species of aquatic plant commonly known as the floating water-plantain. It is the only recognized species in the genus Luronium, native to western and central Europe, from Spain to Britain to Norway east to Ukraine.
Pontederia crassipes, commonly known as common water hyacinth, is an aquatic plant native to South America, naturalized throughout the world, and often invasive outside its native range. It is the sole species of the subgenus Oshunae within the genus Pontederia. Anecdotally, it is known as the "terror of Bengal" due to its invasive growth tendencies.
Rhizofiltration is a form of phytoremediation that involves filtering contaminated groundwater, surface water and wastewater through a mass of roots to remove toxic substances or excess nutrients.
Juncus xiphioides is a species of rush known by the common name irisleaf rush.
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 in areas where it has been introduced, as the resulting dense vegetative mats frequently out-compete native species.
Callitriche marginata is a species of aquatic plant known by the common name winged water starwort. Callitriche marginata is native to the west coast of North America from British Columbia to Baja California, where it grows in and around vernal pools.
Thelypteris palustris, the marsh fern, or eastern marsh fern, is a species of fern native to eastern North America and across Eurasia. It prefers to grow in swamps, bogs, wet fields or thickets, fresh tidal and nontidal marshes, or wooded streambanks. The species epithet palustris is Latin for "of the marsh" and indicates its common habitat. It is the only known host plant for Fagitana littera, the marsh fern moth.
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. The family name Callitrichaceae retains its status as nomen conservandum.
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.
Veronica anagallis-aquatica is a species of flowering plant in the family Plantaginaceae known by the common names water speedwell, blue water-speedwell,brook pimpernel.
Ranunculus trichophyllus, the threadleaf crowfoot, or thread-leaved water-crowfoot, is a plant species in the genus Ranunculus, native to Europe, Asia and North America.
Warnstorfia exannulata is a leafy branching wetland moss in the genus Warnstorfia within the family Amblystegiaceae and class Bryopsida. This bryopsida moss is also known as ringless-hook moss or Warnstorfia moss. It is the most common species of the genus in wetland environments and can be difficult to distinguish from others within the genus. It grows in acidic soils like fens and bogs, or in freshwater pools and lakes.
Callitriche palustris, the vernal water-starwort, narrow-fruited water-starwort, or spiny water starwort, is a species of aquatic plants. It is the type species of its genus.
Callitriche heterophylla, commonly called twoheaded water-starwort, is a species of flowering plant in the family Plantaginaceae. It is native to North America, where it found in the north from Greenland to Alaska, south to Mexico. It is widespread in the United States. Its natural habitat is in a wide variety of wetlands, including ponds, streams, and mudflats. It is typically found in areas of still or slow moving water.
Callitriche truncata, the short leaved water starwort, is a species of plant in the family Plantaginaceae. They have a self-supporting growth form and simple, broad leaves. Individuals can grow to 10 cm tall.