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Hygrophila (plant)

{{Short description|Genus of flowering plants}}

{{for|freshwater snails in the clade Hygrophila|Hygrophila (gastropod)}}

{{Automatic taxobox

|image = Hygrophila polysperma.JPG

|image_caption = Hygrophila polysperma in an aquarium

|display_parents = 2

|taxon = Hygrophila (plant)

|authority = R.Br. (1810)

|subdivision_ranks = Species

|subdivision = 77; see text

|subdivision_ref = [https://powo.science.kew.org/taxon/urn:lsid:ipni.org:names:30016608-2 Hygrophila R.Br.] Plants of the World Online. Retrieved 2 February 2024.

|synonyms =

  • Adenosma {{small|Nees (1832), nom. illeg.}}
  • Asteracantha {{small|Nees (1832)}}
  • Cardanthera {{small|Buch.-Ham. ex Benth. (1847)}}
  • Eberlea {{small|Riddell ex Nees (1847)}}
  • Hemiadelphis {{small|Nees (1832)}}
  • Kita {{small|A.Chev. (1950)}}
  • Nomaphila {{small|Blume (1826)}}
  • Oryzetes {{small|Salisb. (1818)}}
  • Physichilus {{small|Nees (1837)}}
  • Plaesianthera {{small|Livera (1924)}}
  • Polyechma {{small|Hochst. (1841)}}
  • Santapaua {{small|N.P.Balakr. & Subr. (1964)}}
  • Synnema {{small|Benth. (1846)}}
  • Tenoria {{small|Dehnh. & Giord. (1832), nom. illeg.}}

|synonyms_ref =

}}

Hygrophila, commonly known as swampweeds,[https://plants.usda.gov/plant-profile?symbol=HYGRO Hygrophila.] USDA PLANTS.[https://www.itis.gov/servlet/SingleRpt/SingleRpt?search_topic=TSN&search_value=34419 Hygrophila.] Integrated Taxonomic Information System (ITIS). is a genus of flowering plants in the acanthus family, Acanthaceae. There are about 80[http://www.efloras.org/florataxon.aspx?flora_id=5&taxon_id=116043 Hygrophila.] Flora of Pakistan. to 100[http://www.efloras.org/florataxon.aspx?flora_id=2&taxon_id=116043 Hygrophila.] Flora of China.Hài, Đ. V. and D. Đ. Huyến. (2012). [http://www.vjs.ac.vn/index.php/vjbio/article/viewFile/956/1150 New record of species Hygrophila episcopalis R. Ben. (R. Ben.) (Acanthaceae) for the flora of Vietnam.] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160304022944/http://www.vjs.ac.vn/index.php/vjbio/article/viewFile/956/1150 |date=2016-03-04 }} Journal of Biology 34(2), 187–89. species, of which many are aquatic plants. The genus is distributed across the tropical and subtropical world. It is one of only two genera in its family that contains aquatic plants, the other being Justicia. The genus is treated in the tribe Hygrophileae, which is noted as being in need of revision at the genus level, meaning the current taxonomic boundaries of Hygrophila are likely to change in the future.

Description

The leaves are either homomorphic, all with one form, or heteromorphic, with different forms on one plant. Homomorphic leaves are always simple and entire. Plants with heteromorphic leaves generally have pinnately divided basal leaves with either filiform (feather-like) or linear segments, and undivided leaves higher on the stem.{{Citation| last =Cook| first =C. D. K.| title =Aquatic Plant Book| place=Amsterdam| publisher =SPB Academic Publishing| year =1996| edition =2| isbn =90-5103-132-7 }}

The flowers have white to purple corollas with either 5 equal lobes or 2 lips. A lipped corolla has an erect, concave upper lip with two lobes, and a lower lip with 3 lobes. The flower has four stamens. Two may be staminodal, lacking pollen. The individual filaments of the stamens are united into pairs by a membrane. There is an inconspicuous nectar disc. Each flower yields at least 6 seeds.

Ecology and uses

A number of Hygrophila species and cultivars are popular within the aquascaping and aquarium hobbies, including H. angustifolia, H. corymbosa, H. lancea 'Araguaia',{{Cite web |title=Hygrophila Lancea 'Araguaia' |url=https://www.google.com/aclk?sa=l&ai=DChcSEwiXgs3ijuuEAxVpbX8AHWwNAQoYABAIGgJvYQ&gclid=CjwKCAiA0bWvBhBjEiwAtEsoW3pbHS2bjPog_Avr_afX4umQdx247l6vDrRw5GseSm0E73qFBnJTKxoCgTUQAvD_BwE&sph=&sig=AOD64_2Z7_QrJsWJ7Oqht-kSAoHHkC7GZA&ctype=5&q=&ved=2ahUKEwijvcXijuuEAxW148kDHQCPBjUQwg8oAHoECAIQFg&adurl= |access-date=10 March 2024 |website=BucePlant.com}} H. pinnatifida, H. difformis 'Water Wisteria', H. odora, H. polysperma 'Indian swampweed' and H. siamensis. Additionally, there are some striking newer forms on the market, such as the vivid hybrids of Hygrophila polysperma, 'Sunset'{{Cite web |title=Hygrophila polysperma 'Sunset' |url=https://dennerleplants.com/en/plants/plantdetails/Hygrophila-polysperma-'Sunset'-(221)/27885 |access-date=10 March 2024 |website=Dennerle Plants}} and 'Rosanervig'.{{Cite web |title=Hygrophila polysperma Rosanervig |url=https://www.aquasabi.com/Hygrophila-polysperma-Rosanervig |access-date=10 March 2024 |website=aquasabi}}

Many members of the genus are troublesome weeds if they become established within irrigation systems, drains or drainage ditches, as well as in rice fields. Several have become established outside of their native ranges, either due to accidentally-discarded cuttings or deliberate release, such as H. polysperma in the southern United States.

Species

77 species are accepted:

Gallery

File:Hygrophila serpyllum in Hyderabad, AP W IMG 4437.jpg|Hygrophila serpyllum

File:Hygrophila difformis.jpg|Hygrophila difformis

File:Hygrophila schulli Acanthaceae.jpg|Hygrophila schulli

File:Hygrophila pogonocalyx.jpg|Hygrophila pogonocalyx

References

{{Reflist}}

External links

  • {{commons-inline}}

{{WestAfricanPlants|Hygrophila}}

  • [http://www.tropicos.org/Name/40029184?tab=subordinatetaxa Hygrophila subordinate taxa.] Tropicos.
  • [http://www.theplantlist.org/browse/A/Acanthaceae/Hygrophila/ Hygrophila.] The Plant List.

{{Taxonbar|from=Q241151}}

Category:Acanthaceae genera

Category:Pantropical flora

Category:Taxa named by Robert Brown (botanist, born 1773)