Echinodorus paniculatus
Micheli (1881)
Family: Alismataceae.
Synonyms: Echinodorus cylindricus Rataj,
E. macrocarpus Rataj.
Etymology: Echinodorus: see E. aschersoni-
anus\ paniculatus: paniculate, refers to the inflorescence.
Distribution: Central and South America (from southern Mexico to Argentina), frequent.
Description: Strong marsh plant, more than 1 m tall, with a thick, short rhizome. Petiole triangular, more than twice the length of the blade. Leaf blade from linear, lanceolate to narrow ovoid, up to 25 cm long, 1-8 cm wide, aciculate, acute or obtuse at the base, medium green in color, occasionally spotted deep red. Submersed leaves with a long, triangular petiole. Leaf blade linear to strap-shaped, 10-20 cm long, 0.5-1.5 cm wide, light green, occasionally slightly brownish; 3-7 veins. Pellucid markings absent.
Inflorescences in emersed plants, simple or paniculate, mostly shorter, rarely longer than the leaves, sometimes with adventitious plants. Peduncle erect, with adventitious plants dependent, up to 1 m in length, triangular, glabrous. Inflorescence up to 30 cm long, with 4-9( —14) whorls, rachis triangular. Each whorl with 6-45(!) flowers. Bracts 1-2(—5) cm long. Flowers 1-5.5 cm petiolate, diameter about 3-4 cm. Sepals about 6 mm long, 5 mm wide. Petals up to 2.5 cm wide, 2.1 cm long, almost round. About 17-22 stamens; filament up to 1.5 mm long. Numerous carpels. Nutlets 1.7-3 mm long, 0.7-1.5 mm wide, aliferous, 4-5(—7) ribs on each side, no glands; beak up to 0.7 mm long. Culture: Echinodorus paniculatus has only a limited suitability for submersed cultivation. In the aquarium the species will develop long petioles with very narrow and short blades, which is hardly decorative. Also, under acceptable growth conditions emersed leaves will develop quickly. Juveniles are mainly suited for the purposes of temporary submersed maintenance. By utilizing a nutrient-deficient substrate and not too powerful lighting (a little experimentation is necessary at this stage), the process of protruding growth can be slightly delayed. Furthermore, leaves protruding from the water should be severed, resulting in adult leaves remaining mostly
- Echinodorus paniculatus.
smaller petiolate. Otherwise, the species has no special requirements as to maintenance. Multiplication occurs through seeds. Optimum temperature range is 20-28 °C. Ecology: Echinodorus paniculatus populates the banks of pools and rivers as well as flood areas. During the low-water period in August 1987, the author discovered expansive populations on the riverbank of the Rio Guapore (southwestern Brazil) in semishaded and fully sunlit locations, together with other Echinodorus species (among others E. gran-diflorus). Surprisingly, no adventitious plants were found on the numerous inflorescences (for a detailed water analysis of the Rio Guapore see p. 40).
In August 1985, small populations of E. paniculatus were found in three other native habitats in Mexico, with the plants growing in shallow water on a loamy substrate. Water values of one location: temperature 27 °C, pH 7.5, GH 4°dH, KH 5°dH, NH+ 0.5 mg/L, N02 , 0.05 mg/L, Fe not found. The plants in Mexico had numerous adventitious plants on their inflorescences.
Other: Echinodorus paniculatus can be well distinguished from other species by the usu ally lanceolate (unlobed) leaf blades, with an acute apex, as well as the erect, many-flowered inflorescence which mostly does not overtop the plant.
It is unclear if E. glaucus Rataj represents a good species or can be classified together with E. paniculatus, because the species displays only minor differences to E. paniculatus. Echinodorus glaucus is covered with a layer of wax, a blue-green (= glaucus) leaf upperside, round petioles, 24-28 stamens, as well as nutlets with three glands on each side. Haynes and Holm-Nielsen (1994) consider E. glaucus as a synonym to E. paniculatus.
The plant named by Wendt (1952-1955) as Echinodorus paniculatus was subsequently described by Rataj 1975 as Echinodorus bleheri.
Echinodorus paniculatus var. dubius Fas-sett is a synonym to Echinodorus grandi-florus subsp. aureus.
Echinodorus paniculatus near Teresina in eastern Brazil.
Flowers of E. paniculatus.
Echinodorus paniculatus near Teresina in eastern Brazil.
Flowers of E. paniculatus.
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