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Aponogeton distachyos (Water Hawthorn, Cape Pond Weed / Su Alıçı)

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Aponogeton distachyos (Water Hawthorn, Cape Pond Weed / Su Alıçı)


Aponogeton distachyos (Water Hawthorn, Cape Pond Weed / Su Alıçı) from Bornova, İzmir - 05.04.2009.

Water Hawthorn is an aquatic plant growing from a tuberous rhizome. The often mottled leaves float on the water surface from a petiole up to 1 m long from the rhizome; the leaf blade is narrow oval, 6–25 cm long and 1.5–7.7 cm broad, with an entire margin and parallel veins. The flowers are produced on an erect spike with two branches at the apex like a 'Y', held above the water surface; they are sweetly scented, with one or two white petal-like perianth segments 1-2 cm long, and six or more dark purple-brown stamens.

Native to South Africa Western Cape and Mpumalanga Provinces but introduced elsewhere in quiet ponds in warm temperate to subtropical climates in winter rainfall areas. It grows in ponds and vleis which dry up in summer, becoming dormant in the dry summer and growing again when the pools fill with autumn rain.

It is widely cultivated in South Africa for its edible buds and flowers. It is also used as an aquarium and pond plant. It was introduced to Europe in the seventeenth century, and later into other parts of the world. It has escaped into the wild and has become widely naturalised.

Author Bayram GÖÇMEN
Created on Sunday 05 April 2009
Posted on Wednesday 20 July 2011
Tags İzmir, TURKEY / TÜRKİYE
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