Ceratophyllum submersum

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Ceratophyllum submersum
CeratophyllumSubmersum.jpg
Scientific classification Red Pencil Icon.png
Kingdom: Plantae
Clade: Tracheophytes
Clade: Angiosperms
Order: Ceratophyllales
Family: Ceratophyllaceae
Genus: Ceratophyllum
Species:
C. submersum
Binomial name
Ceratophyllum submersum
L.
Ceratophyllum submersum Ceratophyllum submersum.jpg
Ceratophyllum submersum

Ceratophyllum submersum, commonly known as the soft hornwort or tropical hornwort, [1] [2] is a species of Ceratophyllum . It is a submerged, free-floating aquatic plant. [3] It has been reported from Europe, Central Asia, northern Africa, scattered places in tropical Africa, Turkey, Oman, Florida, and the Dominican Republic. [4] [5] [6] [7] [8] [9] It is similar to the submerged macrophyte Ceratophyllum demersum , a congeneric plant that is found in most regions of the world. [10]

Contents

Description

The C. submersum, is a free floating aquatic plant which forks from stem three to four times and ends have 6 to 8 threadlike tips. Compared to the leaves of C. demersum which fork just one to two times, ends in 3 to 4 tips, as a result the C. submersum has a more delicate look to it. [11] The temperature tolerance is suggested to be between 4°C to 30°C, the optimal temperature is noted to be 15°C to 30°C. [12] The height of the plant is often 6 in. -12 in. (15-30 cm) or 12 in. -18 in. (30-45 cm). [2]

Habitat

C. submersum prefers to colonize eutrophic waters around agricultural systems. [10] C. submersum is a self-regulating rapid grower like Ceratophyllum demersum. It strives in a moderately lit environment. In a strong lighted environment C. submersum attains an auburn color tint. [13] Carbon dioxide would speed up growth for C. submersum, but it doesn’t require CO2. Since this aquatic plant has a fast growth it has to be trimmed often, or at least be provided a larger tank or environment to accommodate it for proper function. [14] It is found submerged in freshwater [15] in tropical regions of the world, with the species being introduced in newer areas around the world, such as Ireland. [16] It has been found in the Rosetta branch of the Nile River of Egypt, where it thrives in either various locations at different times of the year. [17]

Ecology

Its presence in waters have been associated with a decrease in nitrogen forms such NH4 and NO3 in water, but an increase in pH, conductivity and dissolved oxygen. [17] While C. demersum has been negatively associated with all phytoplankton classes, C. submersum was positively associated with them, chlorophyll a and Cyanophyceae. [17] C. submersum and C. demersum do not share the same habitat, with the cosmopolitan C. demersum being more distributed, indicating a similar niches. In some cases, C. submersum can overtake C. demersum in one vegetative season in a body of water. [10]

Human uses

C. submersum is often used in aquariums as a way to decrease nitrogen in artificial aquatic systems. However, it is not as common in usage as the C. demersum. It is propagated by cutting the stem of the plant and placing it in the aquatic system. [2] After the organic matter is converted to soluble inorganic matter the C. submersum helps to oxygenates waste water. [18]

Related Research Articles

Eutrophication Excessive plant growth in response to excess nutrient availability

Eutrophication is the process by which an entire body of water, or parts of it, becomes progressively enriched with minerals and nutrients, particularly nitrogen and phosphorus. It has also been defined as "nutrient-induced increase in phytoplankton productivity". Water bodies with very low nutrient levels are termed oligotrophic and those with moderate nutrient levels are termed mesotrophic. Advanced eutrophication may also be referred to as dystrophic and hypertrophic conditions. Eutrophication in freshwater ecosystems is almost always caused by excess phosphorus while in marine systems nitrogen and phosphorus may both be important in different locations.

Aquatic plant Plant that has adapted to living in an aquatic environment

Aquatic plants are plants that have adapted to living in aquatic environments. They are also referred to as hydrophytes or macrophytes to distinguish them from algae and other microphytes. A macrophyte is a plant that grows in or near water and is either emergent, submergent, or floating. In lakes and rivers macrophytes provide cover for fish, substrate for aquatic invertebrates, produce oxygen, and act as food for some fish and wildlife.

<i>Ceratophyllum</i> Genus of plants

Ceratophyllum is a cosmopolitan genus of flowering plants including four accepted living species in 2016, commonly found in ponds, marshes, and quiet streams in tropical and in temperate regions. It is the only extant genus in the family Ceratophyllaceae, itself the only extant family in the order Ceratophyllales. They are usually called coontails or hornworts, although hornwort is also used for unrelated plants of the division Anthocerotophyta.

Lake Okeechobee Natural freshwater lake in Florida, United States

Lake Okeechobee, also known as Florida's Inland Sea, is the largest freshwater lake in the state of Florida. It is the eighth largest natural freshwater lake among the 50 states of the United States and the second-largest natural freshwater lake contained entirely within the contiguous 48 states.

Water garden Garden with water as a main feature

Water garden or aquatic garden, is a term sometimes used for gardens, or parts of gardens, where any type of water feature is a principal or dominant element. The primary focus is on plants, but they will sometimes also house waterfowl, or ornamental fish, in which case it may be called a fish pond. They vary enormously in size and style.

This article gives an overview of the aquatic communities in the British National Vegetation Classification system.

North Somerset Levels

The North Somerset Levels is a coastal plain, an expanse of low-lying flat ground, which occupies an area between Weston-super-Mare and Bristol in North Somerset, England. The River Banwell, River Kenn, River Yeo and Land Yeo are the three principal rivers draining the area.

Lake ecosystem Type of ecosystem

A lake ecosystem or lacustrine ecosystem includes biotic (living) plants, animals and micro-organisms, as well as abiotic (non-living) physical and chemical interactions. Lake ecosystems are a prime example of lentic ecosystems, which include ponds, lakes and wetlands, and much of this article applies to lentic ecosystems in general. Lentic ecosystems can be compared with lotic ecosystems, which involve flowing terrestrial waters such as rivers and streams. Together, these two ecosystems are examples of freshwater ecosystems.

<i>Ceratophyllum demersum</i> Species of plant

Ceratophyllum demersum, commonly known as hornwort, rigid hornwort, coontail, or coon's tail, is a species of Ceratophyllum. It is a submerged, free-floating aquatic plant, with a cosmopolitan distribution, native to all continents except Antarctica. It is a harmful introduced weed in New Zealand. It is also a popular aquarium plant.

<i>Egeria densa</i> Species of aquatic plant

Egeria densa, the large-flowered waterweed or Brazilian waterweed, is a species of Egeria native to warm temperate South America in southeastern Brazil, Argentina, Chile and Uruguay. It is considered a problematic invasive species due to its use in home aquariums and subsequent release into non-native ecosystems.

<i>Nymphoides peltata</i> Species of aquatic plant

Nymphoides peltata is perennial, rooted aquatic plant with floating leaves of the family Menyanthaceae.

<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.

Manasbal Lake Lake in Jammu and Kashmir, India

Manasbal Lake is a freshwater lake located in Safapora area of Ganderbal District in Jammu and Kashmir, India. The name Manasbal is said to be a derivative of Manasarovar. Lake is encircled by four villages viz., Jarokbal, Kondabal, Nesbal and Gratbal. The large growth of lotus at the periphery of the lake adds to the beauty of the clear waters of the lake. The Mughal garden, called the Jaroka Bagh, built by Nur Jahan overlooks the lake.

<i>Hygraula nitens</i> Species of moth

Hygraula nitens, the pond moth or Australian water moth, is a moth of the family Crambidae. It was described by Arthur Gardiner Butler in 1880. It is found in New Zealand and most of Australia, including Tasmania.

<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 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.

Hypoxia (environmental) Low oxygen conditions or levels

Hypoxia refers to low oxygen conditions. Normally, 20.9% of the gas in the atmosphere is oxygen. The partial pressure of oxygen in the atmosphere is 20.9% of the total barometric pressure. In water, oxygen levels are much lower, approximately 7 ppm or 0.0007% in good quality water, and fluctuate locally depending on the presence of photosynthetic organisms and relative distance to the surface.

<i>Ceratophyllum echinatum</i> Species of aquatic plant

Ceratophyllum echinatum, known as prickly hornwort, spiny hornwort, or spiny coontail, is an aquatic, perennial plant found in North America. Its name comes from fruits, which have a warty surface and long spines. Spiny hornwort can be found in ponds and lakes, principally in eastern North America. It is the only species of its genus endemic to North America.

<i>Podostemum ceratophyllum</i> Species of aquatic plant

Podostemum ceratophyllum, commonly known as the hornleaf riverweed, is a species of submerged aquatic plant in the family Podostemaceae. It is native to eastern North America where it grows on hard bottoms in swiftly flowing rivers and streams and is considered a foundation species.

The anthophytes are a grouping of plant taxa bearing flower-like reproductive structures. They were formerly thought to be a clade comprising plants bearing flower-like structures. The group contained the angiosperms - the extant flowering plants, such as roses and grasses - as well as the Gnetales and the extinct Bennettitales.

References

  1. BSBI List 2007 (xls). Botanical Society of Britain and Ireland. Archived from the original (xls) on 2015-06-26. Retrieved 2014-10-17.
  2. 1 2 3 "PlantFiles: Coontail, Tropical Hornwort, Soft Hornwort". Dave's Garden. Retrieved 2019-12-11.
  3. soft hornwort UK wildflowers
  4. Kew World Checklist of Selected Plant Families
  5. Dobignard, A. & Chatelain, C. (2011). Index synonymique de la flore d'Afrique du nord 3: 1-449. Éditions des conservatoire et jardin botaniques, Genève.
  6. Sheremetova, S.A., Ebel, A.L. & Buko, T.E. (2011). Supplement to the flora of Kemerovo region since 2001 till 2010. Turczaninowia 14(1): 65-74.
  7. Lazkov, G.A. & Sultanova, B.A. (2011). Checklist of vascular plants of Kyrgyzstan. Norrlinia 24: 1-166.
  8. Acevedo-Rodríguez, Pedro; Strong, Mark T. (2012). "Catalogue of Seed Plants of the West Indies". Smithsonian Contributions to Botany. 98: 1–1192. doi:10.5479/si.0081024x.98.1. hdl:10088/17551.
  9. Mosti, Stefano; Raffaelli, Mauro; Tardelli, Marcello (2012). "Contribution to the Flora of Central-Southern Dhofar (Sultanate of Oman)". Webbia. 67: 65–91. doi:10.1080/00837792.2012.10670909. hdl: 2158/654870 . S2CID   128491512.
  10. 1 2 3 Nagengast, Barbara; Gąbka, Maciej (January 2017). "Apparent niche partitioning of two congeneric submerged macrophytes in small water bodies: The case of Ceratophyllum demersum L. and C. submersum L.". Aquatic Botany. 137: 1–8. doi:10.1016/j.aquabot.2016.11.001. ISSN   0304-3770.
  11. "Ceratophyllum submersum". Flowgrow. Retrieved 2019-12-11.
  12. "Ceratophyllum submersum". Flowgrow. Retrieved 2019-12-11.
  13. "Ceratophyllum submersum". Flowgrow. Retrieved 2019-12-11.
  14. "Ceratophyllum submersum". Flowgrow. Retrieved 2019-12-11.
  15. "Ceratophyllum submersum". www.cabi.org. Retrieved 2019-12-11.
  16. Smith, S. J.; Wolfe-Murphy, S. A. (1991). "Ceratophyllum submersum L. Soft Hornwort, a Species New to Ireland". The Irish Naturalists' Journal. 23 (9): 374–376. ISSN   0021-1311. JSTOR   25539572.
  17. 1 2 3 El-Sheekh, Mostafa M.; Haroon, Amany M.; Sabae, Soad (2018-09-01). "Seasonal and spatial variation of aquatic macrophytes and phytoplankton community at El-Quanater El-Khayria River Nile, Egypt". Beni-Suef University Journal of Basic and Applied Sciences. 7 (3): 344–352. doi: 10.1016/j.bjbas.2018.03.002 . ISSN   2314-8535.
  18. "Ceratophyllum (PROSEA) - PlantUse English". uses.plantnet-project.org. Retrieved 2019-12-11.