Littorella

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Littorella

Scientific classification
Kingdom: Plantae
Division: Magnoliophyta
Class: Magnoliopsida
Order: Lamiales
Family: Plantaginaceae
Genus: Littorella
(L.) Asch.
Species

L. uniflora
L. americana
L. australis

Littorella is a genus of two[1] to three[2] species of aquatic plants. Many plants live their entire lives submersed, and reproduce by stolons, but some are only underwater for part of the year, and flower when they are not underwater.[2]

Contents

[edit] Classification

Molecular data show Littorella to be sister to the rest of the genus Plantago. Thus, cladistics would allow it to be considered either as a separate genus or as part of Plantago.[3][2] Some researchers, particularly Rahn in the 1990s, have considered Littorella to be located within Plantago, but this does not seem to be required given the molecular data and a closer look at morphology.[2]

[edit] Species

L. uniflora growing at the banks of a sandy pool
L. uniflora growing at the banks of a sandy pool

Some authors have treated L. uniflora and L. americana to be one species, but molecular data show L. americana to be more closely related to L. australis than it is to L. uniflora, which argues for recognizing three species.[2] It seems likely that the genus originated in Europe and first spread to North America, and from there to South America, with both events happening in the Pleistocene or later.[2]

[edit] References

  1. ^ a b Littorella L.. Flora of Chile 125–126.
  2. ^ a b c d e f g h i Ronald K. Hoggard, Paul J. Kores, Mia Molvray, Gloria D. Hoggard and David A. Broughton (2003). "Molecular systematics and biogeography of the amphibious genus Littorella (Plantaginaceae)". American Journal of Botany 90: 429–435. 
  3. ^ Albach, D. C., Meudt, H. M. & Oxelman, B. 2005. Piecing together the "new" Plantaginaceae. American Journal of Botany 92: 297-315.

[edit] External links