Water lettuce (Pistia stratiotes)

Water lettuce (Pistia stratiotes) is a species of plant in the Araceae, a perennial monocot with thick and soft leaves that form a rosette, floats on the surface of the water, roots hanging and submerged under floating leaves, grows in watery habitats, rice fields, canals. freshwater and marshes.

P. stratiotes has bright green leaves, 2-15 cm long, parallel venation and wavy edges. The surface is covered in short, white hairs that form a basket-like structure and trap air bubbles for increased buoyancy.



Sponge parenchyma with large intercellular spaces also helps the plant to float. Flowers are dioecious, have no petals and are hidden between the leaves.

Spadix inflorescence with 1 pistil, 1 ovary and 2-8 stamens with 2 stamens. The pistil and carpel are separated by folds in the spathe, where the male flower lies above the female flower.

Berries are green, oval in shape, ovoid seeds are formed after fertilization. Plants undergo asexual reproduction via stolons, but evidence of sexual reproduction has also been observed.

Pistia stratiotes are found in slow-moving rivers, lakes, and ponds. Optimal growth at 22-30C, but can withstand temperature extremes up to 35C. This species also requires slightly acidic water in the pH range of 6.5-7.2.

TAXON

Kingdom: Plantae
Phylum: Tracheophyta
Subphylum: Angiospermae
Class: Liliopsida
Order: Alismatales
Family: Araceae
Subfamily: Aroideae
Tribe: Pistieae
Genus: Pistia L. in Sp. Pl.: 963 (1753)
Species: Pistia stratiotes L. in Sp. Pl.: 963 (1753)

HETEROTYPIC SYNONYMS

Apiospermum obcordatum (Schleid.) Klotzsch in Abh. Königl. Akad. Wiss. Berlin 1853: 351 (1853)
Limnonesis commutata (Schleid.) Klotzsch (1853)
Limnonesis friedrichsthaliana Klotzsch (1853)
Pistia aegyptiaca Schleid. in Allg. Gartenzeitung 6: 19 (1838)
Pistia aethiopica Fenzl ex Klotzsch (1853)
Pistia africana C.Presl in Abh. Königl. Böhm. Ges. Wiss., ser. 5, 6: 600 (1851)
Pistia amazonica C.Presl (1851)
Pistia brasiliensis Klotzsch (1853)
Pistia commutata Schleid. (1838)
Pistia crispata Blume in Rumphia 1: 78 (1836)
Pistia cumingii Klotzsch (1853)
Pistia gardneri Klotzsch (1853)
Pistia horkeliana Miq. in Linnaea 18: 81 (1845)
Pistia leprieuri Blume (1836)
Pistia linguiformis Blume (1836)
Pistia minor Blume (1836)
Pistia natalensis Klotzsch (1853)
Pistia obcordata Schleid. (1838)
Pistia occidentalis Blume (1836)
Pistia schleideniana Klotzsch (1853)
Pistia spathulata Michx. in Fl. Bor.-Amer. 2: 162 (1803)
Pistia stratiotes var. cuneata Engl. in C.F.P.von Martius & auct. suc. (eds.), Fl. Bras. 3(2): 214 (1878)
Pistia stratiotes var. linguiformis Engl. (1878)
Pistia stratiotes var. obcordata (Schleid.) Engl. (1878)
Pistia stratiotes var. spathulata (Michx.) Engl. (1878)
Pistia texensis Klotzsch (1853)
Pistia turpinii K.Koch in Bot. Zeitung (Berlin) 10: 577 (1852)
Pistia weigeltiana C.Presl (1851)
Zala asiatica Lour. in Fl. Cochinch.: 405 (1790)

PUBLICATIONS

(2023). https://doi.org/10.11646/phytotaxa.589.2.4. epublication.

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VERNACULAR NAME

Afrikaans: Waterslaai
Assamese: Barpuni, Jalakumbhi
Bengali: জলকুম্ভী - টাকাপানা Jalakumbhi, Takapana
Bulgarian: мидено цвете
Chinese (simplified): 大漂 - 大莲 - 大萍 - 大蕊萍 - 大薸 - 水白菜 - 水芙蓉
Chinese (traditional): 大萍 - 大薸
Croatian: Pistija
Czech: Babelka řezanovitá
Danish: Vandsalat
Dogri: Jal Gobbha
Dutch: Mosselplant, Nijlkool, Schelpbloem, Waterkool, Watersla
English: Water lettuce. Nile cabbage, Nile lettuce, Pistia stratiotes, Water cabbage, Shellflower, Tropical duckweed
Filipino: Kiapo, Apon, Loloan
Finnish: Pistia
French: Laitue d'eau
German: Grüne Wasserrose, Muschelblume, Wassersalat
Guangdong: 大薸
Gujarati: Gondal, Jalakumbhi, Jalshankhala
Hebrew: פיסטיה צפה
Hindi: अंतरगंगा - तकापना - जेलखुम्बी - दलाधक - हाथ - जलकुंभी - जलपृष्टजा - पह्निका - पनियापृष्टजा - पर्नी - प्रिश्निका - वारिपर्णी Antarganga, Takapana, Jelkhumbi, Daladhak, Hath, Jalakumbhi, Jalaprishtaja, Pahnika, Paniyaprishtaja, Parni, Prishnika, Variparni
Hong Kong: 大薸
Hungarian: Kagylótutaj, úszó kagylótutaj
Indonesian: Kiamang, Apu-Apu, Kapu-kapu, Kayu apu, Kayambang, Kayu apung
Italian: Lattuga acquatica
Japanese: ボタンウキクサ
Java: Kayu apu
Kannada: Antaragange, Antarataavare, Kumbika
Konkani: Jelo
Korean: 물상추
Lithuanian: Salotinė plūdoklė
Macao: 大薸
Malayalam: Akasathamara, Angillapongu, Kudappayal, Muttapayal, Neercheera, Kodappayal
Malaysia: Kiambang
Manipuri: Kabokang, Kangjao
Marathi: Brandal, Haravel, Akashamuli, Gondaal, Jalamandavi, Paankumbhi
Nepali: जल कुंभी - पानी बंदा Jal Kumbhee, Paanee Bandaa
Odia: Akashamuli, Bara Jhanji, Hathalu, Hathi, Khamuli, Kutruna, Palhika, Patala, Prushni
Oria: Bora jhanji, Baujhau jhe, Pani tamaro
Oshiwambo: Okambodi
Polish: Pistia rozetkowa
Portuguese: Alface-d’água
Russian: Пистия слоистая - Пистия телорезовидная
Sanskrit: Jalakumbhee, Akashamuli, Ashakumbhi, Daladhaka, Hatha, Hathalu, Jalakumbhika, Jalavalkala, Kattrna, Kumbhi, Kumuda, Pahlika, Paniyaprshthaja, Parna, Prshni, Shitakumbhi, Shitala, Shuklapushpa, Shvetaparna, Varichatvara, Varikarnika, Varimuli, Varipalika, Variparni
Slovak: Pistia rezavková
Spanish: Lechuga, Lechuga de Agua, Lechugilla de agua, Lechuguilla, Patico, Repollito de agua, Salade d'eau
Sunda: Kiambang, Ki apu
Swedish: Musselblomma
Taiwan: 大薸
Tamil: ஆகாஷா-டி-தாமரை - அந்தரா-டி-தாமரை - கூலி-டி-தாமரை Akasha-T-Tamarai, Antara-T-Tamarai, Kuli-T-Tamarai
Telugu: Antharai-dhaman, Nirubuduki, Anthara thamara, Antara-Tamara, Budaga Tamara, Akashatamara, Neeraaku, Nirubudiki, Tudikura
Thai: จอก
Tulu: Antaragange, Neerata
Ukrainian: Водяна капуста - Водяний латук - Водяний салат - Пістія
Urdu: پہنکا Pahnika
Zulu: Indwane

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