Home | > | List of families | > | Ceratophyllaceae | > | Ceratophyllum | > | demersum |
Synonyms: |
Ceratophyllum oxyacanthum Cham. Ceratophyllum tuberculatum Cham. |
Common names: | Coontail (English) Rigid hornwort (English) |
Frequency: | |
Status: | Native |
Description: |
Submerged aquatic herb. Stems up to 3m long and 2 mm in diameter, longitudinally grooved. Leaves in whorls of 7-11, 8-40 mm long, filiform, forked 1-2(3) times; margin with spine-tipped teeth, particularly in the apical segments. Flowers axillary, unisexual on the same plant; male flowers in many 1-3-flowered clusters per branch; female flowers solitary, few per branch. Fruit ovoid, ellipsoid to obovoid with an apical spine and 2 prominent basal spines, and raised dark spots on the surface. |
Notes: | |
Derivation of specific name: | demersum: submerged, underwater |
Habitat: | Occurring in most types of permanent fresh water, even in brackish estuaries, often forming thick mats just below the surface. |
Altitude range: (metres) | Up to 1600 m |
Flowering time: | |
Worldwide distribution: | Subcosmopolitan in temperate and tropical regions. |
Zimbabwe distribution: | N,W,C |
Growth form(s): | Aquatic. |
Endemic status: | |
Red data list status: | |
Insects associated with this species: | |
Spot characters: | Display spot characters for this species |
Images last updated: | Saturday 13 July 2019 |
Literature: |
Mapaura, A. & Timberlake, J. (eds) (2004). A checklist of Zimbabwean vascular plants Southern African Botanical Diversity Network Report No. 33 Sabonet, Pretoria and Harare Page 35. Setshogo, M.P. (2005). Preliminary checklist of the plants of Botswana. Sabonet Report no. 37. Sabonet, Pretoria and Gaborone Page 46. Timberlake, J.R. & Childes, S.L. (2004). Biodiversity of the Four Corners Area: Technical Reviews Volume Two (Chapter 5-15) Appendix 5-1: Plant Checklist Occasional Publications in Biodiversity 15 Page 203. As Ceratophyllum demersum Wilmot-Dear, C.M. (1991). Ceratophyllaceae Flora Zambesiaca 9(6) Pages 125 - 127. (Includes a picture). |
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