Limnophila

R. Brown

Prodr., 442. 1810. name conserved

Common names: Ambulia
Introduced
Etymology: Greek limne, pool, and philos, loving, alluding to habitat
Treatment appears in FNA Volume 17. Treatment on page 271. Mentioned on page 12, 14, 272, 275, 279.

Herbs, perennial [annual], paludal or aquatic, emergent. Stems erect [prostrate, creeping], hairy or glabrous. Leaves cauline, opposite or whorled, dimorphic; petiole present or absent; blade not fleshy, not leathery, margins of submerged leaves pinnatifid, of aerial leaves entire, serrate, or pinnatifid. Inflorescences terminal or axillary, racemes or flowers solitary, rarely paired [or spikes]; bracts present or absent. Pedicels present or absent; bracteoles present or absent. Flowers bisexual, chasmogamous or cleistogamous; sepals 5, basally connate, calyx bilaterally symmetric, tubular, lobes triangular or lanceolate [ovate]; corolla blue, blue-purple, or white, bilaterally symmetric, bilabiate, tubular or funnelform, tube base not gibbous or spurred, lobes 4 or 5, abaxial 3, adaxial 1 or 2; stamens 4, basally adnate to corolla, didynamous, filaments glabrous or hairy; staminode 0; ovary 2-locular, placentation axile; stigma capitate, 2-lobed. Fruits capsules, dehiscence septicidal. Seeds 20–200, brown to dark brown, conic to cylindric, wings absent. × = 17.

Distribution

Introduced; Asia, Africa, Pacific Islands, Australia, introduced also in South America.

Discussion

Species 40 (2 in the flora).

The two species recognized here could be difficult to distinguish throughout their ranges; intermediate plants, which are believed to be hybrids, have been found.

Limnophila is closely related to Hydrotriche Zuccarini, a small genus of aquatic plants native to Madagascar. Together they form a group sister to Gratiola in Gratioleae (D. Estes and R. L. Small 2008).

Key

1 Pedicels 3–8 mm in flower, 5–12 mm in fruit; bracteoles 1–3.5 mm; corolla tubes 4–5(–8) mm; cleistogamous flowers absent. Limnophila indica
1 Pedicels 0–2 mm in flower, 0–4 mm in fruit; bracteoles 0–1.5 mm; corolla tubes 8–10 mm; cleistogamous flowers present, submerged. Limnophila sessiliflora