Ottelia alismoides

Botanical Description

Ottelia alismoides is a partly or fully submerged freshwater plant. A cluster of leaves are produced from a fibrous root system - these leaves can be very variable, with a petiole that can vary greatly in length depending upon the depth of water the plant is growing in. The leaves are usually submerged, except in very shallow water, but the flowers float when open, usually sinking below the surface after fertilization[ 266 Title Flora of China Publication Author Website http://flora.huh.harvard.edu/china/ Publisher Missouri Botanical Garden Press; St. Louis. Year 1994 ISBN Description An excellent, comprehensive resource in 25 volumes. In addition to the botanical information the flora also gives basic information on habitat and some uses. An on-line version is also available. , 310 Title Plant Resources of Southeast Asia Publication Author Website http://proseanet.org/ Publisher Year 0 ISBN Description Lots of information on the uses of the plants of SE Asia. , 360 Title Philippine Medicinal Plants Publication Author Website http://www.stuartxchange.org/CompleteList.html Publisher Year 0 ISBN Description A lovely site, giving brief details on the medicinal uses of several hundred (over 400 at the last count) plants in the Philippines, plus a picture of each plant. ]. The plant is harvested from the wild for local use as a food and medicine. It is grown in ponds, where it helps to keep the water clear, and is also sometimes grown as an aquarium plant[ 310 Title Plant Resources of Southeast Asia Publication Author Website http://proseanet.org/ Publisher Year 0 ISBN Description Lots of information on the uses of the plants of SE Asia. ]. Ottelia alismoides is widely distributed in north-eastern Africa, eastern and southeast Asia and the tropical regions of Australia. It has a large distribution area and is considered invasive in some countries. While it is possibly declining in parts of its range it is not thought that global population decline is likely to qualify the species for any threatened category The plant is classified as 'Least Concern' in the IUCN Red List of Threatened Species(2017)[ 338 Title IUCN Red List of Threatened Species Publication Author Website http://www.iucnredlist.org/ Publisher Year 0 ISBN Description A list of plants under threat and facing possible extinction, usually with brief details of the threats and information on habitat. ].