Name
Classifications and Characteristics
| Plant Division | Angiosperms (Flowering Seed Plants) (Dicotyledon) |
|---|---|
| Plant Growth Form | Aquatic & Hydrophyte (Emergent Aquatic, Submerged Aquatic) |
| Maximum Height | 15 cm to 20 cm |
Biogeography
| Native Distribution | Kenya, Tanzania, Uganda |
|---|
Description and Ethnobotany
| Growth Form | Emergent or submerged aquatic plant up to 0.2 m tall. Plants may be annual or perennial. |
|---|---|
| Foliage | Small, round to egg-shaped leaves (5-13 mm long, 4-12 mm wide) occur in decussate leaf arrangement (adjacent leaf pairs are oriented perpendicular to one another). They are hairless or slightly pubescent. |
| Flowers | Small, white flowers are spotted with bright blue to purplish spots. Solitary flowers occur in the leaf axils (the area between the stem and upper leaf surface). |
| Fruit | The dry, dehiscent fruit is an ellipsoid capsule (2.5-3 mm long). |
| Cultivation | It can be planted either partially or totally submerged under water or it can be grown in moist soil. It is often planted submerged in aquarium tanks where it tolerates low light and needs 6-14 mg/L carbon dioxide. |
Landscaping Features
| Landscape Uses | Pond / Lake / River, Marsh / Bog, Aquarium / Aquascape |
|---|---|
| Thematic Landscaping | Water Garden, Marsh Garden |
Plant Care and Propagation
| Light Preference | Full Sun, Semi-Shade |
|---|---|
| Water Preference | Lots of Water |
| Plant Growth Rate | Fast |
| Rootzone Tolerance | Moist Soils, Waterlogged Soils |
| Propagation Method | Seed |
Foliar
| Mature Foliage Colour(s) | Green - Light Green |
|---|---|
| Mature Foliage Texture(s) | Smooth |
| Foliar Type | Simple / Unifoliate |
| Foliar Arrangement Along Stem | Opposite |
| Foliar Attachment to Stem | Sessile |
| Foliar Shape(s) | Non-Palm Foliage (Ovate, Orbicular / Round) |
| Foliar Venation | Pinnate / Net |
| Foliar Margin | Entire, Serrulate |
| Foliar Apex - Tip | Obtuse |
| Foliar Base | Truncate / Square |
Floral (Angiosperm)
| Flower & Plant Sexuality | Bisexual Flowers |
| Flower Colour(s) | Blue, Purple, White |
|---|---|
| Flower Grouping | Solitary |
| Flower Symmetry | Bilateral |
| Individual Flower Shape | Labiate / Lipped |
Fruit, Seed and Spore
| Fruit Classification | Simple Fruit |
|---|---|
| Fruit Type | Dehiscent Dry Fruit , Capsule |
Image Repository
Others
| Master ID | 32240 |
|---|---|
| Species ID | 6648 |
| Flora Disclaimer | The information in this website has been compiled from reliable sources, such as reference works on medicinal plants. It is not a substitute for medical advice or treatment and NParks does not purport to provide any medical advice. Readers should always consult his/her physician before using or consuming a plant for medicinal purposes. |
