Potamogeton perfoliatus

Last updated

Potamogeton perfoliatus
Potamogeton perfoliatus.jpeg
Scientific classification OOjs UI icon edit-ltr.svg
Kingdom: Plantae
Clade: Tracheophytes
Clade: Angiosperms
Clade: Monocots
Order: Alismatales
Family: Potamogetonaceae
Genus: Potamogeton
Species:
P. perfoliatus
Binomial name
Potamogeton perfoliatus
L.
Synonyms [2]
  • Buccaferrea amplexicaulis(Kar.) Bubani
  • Peltopsis perfoliata(L.) Raf.
  • Potamogeton alatofructusA.Benn.
  • Potamogeton amplexicaulisKar.
  • Potamogeton bupleuroides Fernald
  • Potamogeton loeseliiHonck.
  • Potamogeton praelongusF.Muell.
  • Spirillus perfoliatus(L.) Nieuwl.

Potamogeton perfoliatus (claspingleaf pondweed, [3] perfoliate pondweed, [4] redhead grass [5] ) 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.

Contents

Description

Perfoliate pondweed growing in a canal. Note the leaves clasping the stem. PotamogetonPerfoliatus.jpg
Perfoliate pondweed growing in a canal. Note the leaves clasping the stem.

Perfoliate pondweed grows from a robust creeping perennial rhizome, intermittently producing round stems up to 3 m long. [6] The submerged leaves are oval and translucent, with no stalk, 20–115 mm long and 7–42 mm wide, clasping the stem (perfoliate), a flat apex, and 5-12 veins on either side of the midrib. [6] They vary considerably in colour and may be bright green, dark green, yellowish, olive or brownish. [6] There are no floating leaves. The stipules are rather delicate and usually fall off quite soon after the new leaf has unfurled. The insignificant flowers are produced between June and September. [7] Fruits are 4 mm across, olive green in colour.

Two subspecies have been described. Subspecies perfoliatus occurs in the Old World. In North America, populations on the eastern seaboard and the Gulf States are considered to be subsp. bupleuroides. [8] Since many pondweeds, including P. perfoliatus, vary naturally in response to growing conditions, [6] it is possible that these variants are ecotypes rather than genuine subspecies. The related P. richardsonii was formerly considered a subspecies of P. perfoliatus, but is now classed as a separate species. [9]

Like most other broadleaved pondweeds, perfoliate pondweed is tetraploid, with 2n=52. [10]

Over much of its range, perfoliate pondweed is unlikely to be confused with any other pondweed species except perhaps P. praelongus. In North America it could be confused with P. richardsonii, but the latter has stipules that disintegrate to persistent fibres even on the lower part of the stem, whereas those of P. perfoliatus disintegrate entirely. [9]

However, perfoliate pondweed regularly hybridises with other Potamogeton species including P. crispus (P. × cooperi(Fryer) Fryer), P. gramineus (P. × nitensWeber), P.lucens (P. × salicifoliusWolfg.), P. alpinus (P. × prussicusHagstr.), P. berchtoldii (P. × mysticusMorong), P. wrightii (P. × anguillanusKoidz.), P. maackianus (P. × leptocephalusKoidz.), P. alpinus (P. × prussicusHagstr.), P. nodosus (P. × assidensZ. Kaplan, Zalewska-Gałosz et M. Ronikier), P. richardsonii (P. × absconditusZ. Kaplan, Fehrer & Hellq.), P. epihydrus (P. × versicolorZ. Kaplan, Hellq. and Fehrer) and P. praelongus (P. × cognatusAsch. & Graebn.). [2] [6] The first three of these are quite common. [6] A triple hybrid, P. gramineus × lucens × perfoliatus (P. × torssandrii(Tiselius) Dörfler), is also known. [10] Many of these hybrids are perennial and long-lived, sometimes occurring in the absence of one or even both parents. Therefore, care should be taken with identification of unusual specimens.[ citation needed ]

Taxonomy

Potamogeton perfoliatus (perfoliate meaning that the leaf encircles the stem) was one of the original species named by Linnaeus in Species Plantarum (1753).[ citation needed ]

DNA analysis indicates that P. perfoliatus is one of the broad-leaved pondweed clade (section Potamogeton) and is probably most closely related to P. richardsonii. [11]

Distribution

Potamogeton perfoliatus has a broad global distribution, occurring in all continents except South America and Antarctica. It has been recorded from Asia (Afghanistan, India, Indonesia (Sumatra), Japan, Kazakhstan, Korea, Kyrgyzstan, Mongolia, Pakistan, Russia, Tajikistan, Uzbekistan), Australia, [12] North America (Eastern and SE USA), [13] Europe south to Spain, Central Italy and the Balkans and including Scandinavia, Britain, Ireland and Iceland, [8] North Africa (Algeria, Tunisia, Egypt), [8] the Near and Middle East. It is widespread in lakes and rivers in the British Isles and Ireland, [14] and is common in much of Eurasia and North America, but has a more scattered distribution towards the southern edge of its range.[ citation needed ]

Ecology and conservation

P. perfoliatus grows in a wide range of freshwater habitats including lakes, rivers and streams, large ponds, canals and larger drains and ditches. It does not tolerate drying out, and the most robust plants tend to occur in >1 m water depth. [6] Unlike most other broad-leaved pondweeds it is reasonably tolerant of water flow and so can use running waters to a significant extent. It is not especially sensitive to water chemistry provided that the water remains reasonably clear and is not too base-poor, occurring in such diverse habitats as exposed Scottish lochs and lowland fenland rivers. However, at high nutrient concentrations it is vulnerable to shading from phytoplankton and epiphytic algae [15] [16] and filamentous algae. [16] It may also grow in brackish or estuarine habitats, notably in Chesapeake Bay. [17] [18] However, elevated salt concentrations have a negative effect on both growth and flowering. [19]

A Potamogeton perfoliatus bed in Llyn Cregennen Isaf, a high quality lake in Wales (UK) Potamogeton perfoliatus bed, Llyn Cregennan Isaf 2014.jpg
A Potamogeton perfoliatus bed in Llyn Cregennen Isaf, a high quality lake in Wales (UK)

Waterbirds, fish, [17] [20] water beetles and caddis larvae [21] can all be important grazers of perfoliate pondweed, reducing its biomass or even eliminating it locally.[ citation needed ]

Perfoliate pondweed is less threatened than other broadleaved pondweeds, but it is listed as Vulnerable in Spain [22] and the Netherlands [23] and Endangered in Flanders. [24] There are ongoing efforts to restore populations in Chesapeake Bay, where this was formerly a co-dominant species. [25] [26] [27]

Potamogeton perfoliatus in the River Dordogne, France Potamogeton perfoliatus Dordogne.jpg
Potamogeton perfoliatus in the River Dordogne, France

Perfoliate pondweed is the commonest of the so-called Magnopotamion group of pondweeds. These are a characteristic floristic component of the protected Habitats Directive habitat Type 'Natural eutrophic lakes with Magnopotamion'. [28]

Cultivation

Perfoliate pondweed is not widely cultivated, which is perhaps surprising as it is not ecologically demanding and is an attractive plant. In common with other pondweeds of this group it roots poorly from stem cuttings and is best propagated by division of the rhizomes. It is easy to grow in a garden pond or even in a barrel, but unlike some other submerged plants needs to be able to root in a suitable substrate such as sand or aquatic compost. Keeping nutrient levels low helps to prevent smothering by algae and more invasive aquatic plants. [17] Plants being established should be weighted down initially to allow them to root, and benefit from being planted among other aquatic plants that can act as a 'nursery'. [26] Transplants have a high survival rate once established. [26]

P. perfoliatus may also be established from seed, which should be sown on a suitable substrate in shallow water. The seed should be left uncovered, or covered only with a minimal amount of substrate to hold the seed in place and allow root development, as seed buried more than 1 cm deep either does not germinate or the seedlings die. [27] The seed typically germinates within about 10 days. [27]

Although it is possible to grow perfoliate pondweed in fish ponds, it would be vulnerable to fish predation initially, so should be protected during establishment.[ citation needed ]

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</i> Genus of aquatic plants

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. The genus name means "river neighbor", originating from the Greek potamos (river) and geiton (neighbor).

<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 natans</i> Species of aquatic plant

Potamogeton natans, commonly known as broad-leaved pondweed, floating pondweed, or floating-leaf pondweed, is an aquatic species in the genus Potamogeton native to quiet or slow-flowing freshwater habitats throughout the Holarctic Kingdom.

<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 vaginata</i> Species of aquatic plant

Stuckenia vaginata, commonly called sheathed pondweed, big sheathed pondweed or large-sheathed pondweed is a water plant species that grows in fresh and brackish water in Europe, Northern Asia and North America. Sheathed pondweed is rare, but is not in the 2012 IUCN Red List.

<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 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. Gupta, A.K. & Lansdown, R.V. (2013). "Potamogeton perfoliatus". IUCN Red List of Threatened Species . 2013: e.T164189A1029195. doi: 10.2305/IUCN.UK.2013-1.RLTS.T164189A1029195.en . Retrieved 28 October 2023.
  2. 1 2 The Plant List: Potamogeton perfoliatus. Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew and Missouri Botanic Gardens. Accessed November 20, 2014
  3. USDA, NRCS (n.d.). "Potamogeton perfoliatus". The PLANTS Database (plants.usda.gov). Greensboro, North Carolina: National Plant Data Team. Retrieved 13 October 2015.
  4. BSBI List 2007 (xls). Botanical Society of Britain and Ireland. Archived from the original (xls) on 2015-06-26. Retrieved 2014-10-17.
  5. Zinecker, E.; West, J. (2010). "Claspingleaf pondweed (Potamogeton perfoliatus) Plant Fact Sheet" (PDF). USDA-Natural Resources Conservation Service, National Plant Materials Center. Retrieved February 28, 2017.
  6. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 Preston C.D. (1995) Pondweeds of Great Britain and Ireland. BSBI Handbook No. 8. Botanical Society of the British Isles, London.
  7. Rose, Francis (2006). The Wild Flower Key. Frederick Warne & Co. pp. 491–492. ISBN   978-0-7232-5175-0.
  8. 1 2 3 Naturhistorika riksmuseet (Sweden) Ålnate Potamogeton perfoliatus L., northern hemisphere range map
  9. 1 2 Haynes R.R., Hellquist C.B. Flora of North America: Potamogetonaceae. Accessed 11 November 2014.
  10. 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.
  11. 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" (PDF). Cladistics. 22 (6): 568–588. doi:10.1111/j.1096-0031.2006.00124.x. PMID   34892900. S2CID   86085070.
  12. Guo Y., Haynes R.R., Hellquist C.B., Kaplan Z. 2010. Potamogeton. Flora of China, 23, 108-114. http://www.efloras.org/florataxon.aspx?flora_id=2&taxon_id=200024699
  13. United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) Natural Resources Conservation Service: Plants Profile for Potamogeton perfoliatus. Accessed 25 October 2014.
  14. Preston C.D., Pearman D.A., Dines T.D. (2002) New Atlas of the British and Irish Flora: An Atlas of the Vascular Plants of Britain, Ireland, The Isle of Man and the Channel Islands. Oxford University Press, Oxford
  15. Twilley, R.R.; Kemp, W.M.; Staver, K.W.; Stevenson, J.C.; Boynton, W.R. (1985). "Nutrient enrichment of estuarine submersed vascular plant communities. 1. Algal growth and effects on production of plants and associated communities" (PDF). Marine Ecology Progress Series. 23: 179–191. Bibcode:1985MEPS...23..179T. doi: 10.3354/meps023179 .
  16. 1 2 Maëmets, H.; Freiberg, L.; Haldna, M.; Möls, T. (2006). "Inter-annual variability of Potamogeton perfoliatus stands" (PDF). Aquatic Botany. 85 (3): 177–183. doi:10.1016/j.aquabot.2006.03.008.
  17. 1 2 3 USDA Plant Factsheet: Claspingleaf pondweed Potamogeton perfoliatus.
  18. Caffrey, J.M.; Kemp, W.M. (1992). "Influence of the submerged plant, Potamogeton perfoliatus, on nitrogen cycling in estuarine sediments". Limnology and Oceanography. 37 (7): 1483–1495. Bibcode:1992LimOc..37.1483C. CiteSeerX   10.1.1.531.1672 . doi:10.4319/lo.1992.37.7.1483.
  19. van den Brink, F.W.B.; van der Velde, G. (1993). "Growth and morphology of four freshwater macrophytes under the impact of the raised salinity level of the Lower Rhine". Aquatic Botany. 45 (4): 285–297. doi:10.1016/0304-3770(93)90029-v.
  20. Bråbrund, A (1985). "Food of roach (Rutilus rutilus) and ide (Leusiscus idus): significance of diet shift for interspecific competition in omnivorous fishes". Oecologia. 66 (4): 461–467. Bibcode:1985Oecol..66..461B. doi:10.1007/bf00379334. PMID   28310783. S2CID   19404411.
  21. Jacobsen, Dean (1995). "Variability of invertebrate herbivory on the submerged macrophyte Potamogeton perfoliatus". Freshwater Biology. 34 (2): 357–365. doi:10.1111/j.1365-2427.1995.tb00894.x.
  22. Moreno, J.C., coord. 2008. Lista Roja 2008 de la flora vascular española. Dirección General de Medio Natural y Política Forestal (Ministerio de Medio Ambiente, y Medio Rural y Marino, y Sociedad Española de Biología de la Conservación de Plantas), Madrid, 86 pp.
  23. Sparrius L.B., Odé B., Beringen R. 2014. Basisreport Rode Lijst Vaatplanten 2012 volgens Nederlandse en IUCN-criteria. FLORON Rapport 57. Floron, Nijmegen.
  24. Van Landuyt W., Vanhecke L., Hoste I. 2006. Rode Lijst van de vaatplanten van Vlaanderen en het Brussels Hoofdstedelijk Gewest. In : Van Landuyt W. et al. Atlas van de Flora van Vlaanderen en het Brussels Gewest. INBO en Nationale Plantentuin van België, Brussel. Web version.
  25. Shafer, D.; Bergstrom, P. (2010). "An Introduction to a Special Issue on Large-Scale Submerged Aquatic Vegetation Restoration Research in the Chesapeake Bay: 2003–2008" (PDF). Restoration Ecology. 18 (4): 481–489. doi:10.1111/j.1526-100x.2010.00689.x. S2CID   85007050.
  26. 1 2 3 Hengst, A. 2007. Restoration Ecology of Potamogeton perfoliatus in mesohaline Chesapeake Bay: The nursery bed effect. M.Sc. Thesis, University of Maryland.
  27. 1 2 3 Ailstock, M.S.; Shafer, D.J.; Magoun, A.D. (2010). "Effects of Planting Depth, Sediment Grain Size, and Nutrients on Ruppia maritima and Potamogeton perfoliatus Seedling Emergence and Growth" (PDF). Restoration Ecology. 18 (4): 574–583. doi:10.1111/j.1526-100x.2010.00697.x. S2CID   85362004.
  28. "Joint Nature Conservation Committee: 3150 Natural Eutrophic Lakes" . Retrieved 2014-10-19.