Schreber's water-shield

Names and Synonyms

Common Names

• Schreber's water-shield
• purple wen-dock
• water-shield
• water-target

Scientific Names

Accepted name

Synonyms

• Hydropeltis pulla
• Hydropeltis purpurea
• Brasenia nymphoides
• Brasenia purpurea
• Menyanthes peltata

Regional and Traditional Names

Sources: Wikidata, Catalogue of Life

Taxonomical Classification

This plant belongs to the kingdom Plantae within the phylum Streptophyta and the class Equisetopsida. It is further classified under the subclass Magnoliidae and the order Nymphaeaales, falling into the family Cabombaceae. Ultimately, its taxonomic identity is defined by its placement in the genus Brasenia.

Sources: The World Checklist of Vascular Plants (WCVP)

Distribution

This plant exhibits a diverse range of locations across the African continent. In West Tropical Africa, its presence is specifically noted in Nigeria. Moving toward the center of the continent, it can be found throughout West-Central Tropical Africa, including Burundi, Cameroon, and the DR Congo. Additionally, the species extends its reach into Northeast Tropical Africa within Ethiopia. Together, these regions define the primary geographical distribution of Brasenia schreberi.

Sources: The World Checklist of Vascular Plants (WCVP)

Botanical Identification

Ecology

The ecology of Brasenia schreberi is defined by its specialized existence within aquatic habitats, specifically thriving in the calm waters of lakes. This species is adapted to life in lentic environments, where it occupies niches provided by standing freshwater bodies. Its distribution is vertically constrained by specific topographic conditions, as it occurs within an elevational range spanning from a minimum of 600 m AMSL to a maximum of 1450 m AMSL.

Elevational range max:

1450 m AMSL

Elevational range min:

600 m AMSL

Habitat :

aquatic, lakes

Life history

The life history of Brasenia schreberi is characterized by its status as a perennial plant, allowing it to persist in aquatic environments across multiple growing seasons. Functioning as a hydrophyte, it is specialized for life in water, utilizing its aquatic adaptations to thrive in slow-moving or still freshwater habitats. Its structural strategy is further defined by its classification as a cryptophyte, indicating that its perennating buds are protected below the substrate or water surface, ensuring survival through unfavorable periods.

Life form :

hydrophyte

Life form :

cryptophyte

Lifecycle :

perennial

Morphology

The morphology of Brasenia schreberi is characterized by a non-woody, herbaceous growth habit, specifically classified as a forb. This aquatic plant typically reaches a mean plant height of approximately 0.1 m and functions as a self-supporting organism rather than a climber. It is an independent species, meaning it does not function as a parasite, and it maintains a terrestrial status in terms of its epiphytic classification. As an aquatic species, its structure is adapted to its specialized environment, facilitating its life cycle within water bodies.

Aquatic :

aquatic

Climber :

self-supporting

Epiphyte :

terrestrial

Growth form :

herb

Growth form :

forb

Parasite :

independent

Plant height mean:

0.1 m

Woodiness :

non-woody

Physiology

The physiology of Brasenia schreberi is characterized by a C3 photosynthetic pathway, which governs its carbon fixation processes within aquatic environments. The plant's morphological dimensions regarding its foliage show significant variability, with leaf lengths ranging from a minimum of 3.5 cm to a mean of 4.75 cm, though extreme growth can reach a maximum of 200 cm. In terms of transverse development, the leaf width fluctuates between a minimum of 5 cm and a maximum of 10 cm, maintaining an average width of 7.5 cm. Furthermore, the species does not function as a nitrogen fixer, relying instead on the available nutrients within its ecosystem rather than symbiotic nitrogen fixation.

Leaf length max:

200 cm

Leaf length mean:

4.75 cm

Leaf length min:

3.5 cm

Leaf width max:

10 cm

Leaf width mean:

7.5 cm

Leaf width min:

5 cm

Nitrogen fixer :

no

Photosynthetic pathway :

C3

Reproduction

The reproduction of Brasenia schreberi is characterized by a specific seasonal flowering cycle and specialized ecological interactions. The plant begins its flowering period in July and continues through September. During this time, the flowers exhibit a size ranging from a minimum of 1 cm to a maximum length of 2 cm. The pollination process is facilitated by a beetle-driven pollination syndrome, ensuring the fertilization necessary for seed production. Once seeds are developed, they vary in mass, with a minimum weight of 0.0026 g, a mean mass of 0.0067775 g, and a maximum mass of 0.010955 g. Following maturation, the plant utilizes a hydrochorous dispersal syndrome, relying on water currents to transport its seeds to new aquatic habitats.

Dispersal syndrome :

hydrochorous

Flower length max:

2 cm

Flower length min:

1 cm

Flowering time :

Jul

Flowering time :

Sep

Pollination syndrome :

beetle

Seed mass max:

0.010955 g

Seed mass mean:

0.0067775 g

Seed mass min:

0.0026 g

Sources: Global Inventory of Floras and Traits (GIFT)

Plant Parts

Brasenia schreberi has 1 reported plant parts identified across 1 scientific publications and several other databases that are studied for medicinal purposes. The most consistently reported plant part include leaf.

Leaf

1. Molecules (Basel, Switzerland)

Chemicals

Brasenia schreberi has 4 reported phytochemicals identified across 1 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported chemicals include ETHYL GALLATE, Gallic acid, Hypolaetin 7-O-glucoside, METHYL GALLATE.

ETHYL GALLATE

1. Molecules (Basel, Switzerland)

Gallic acid

1. Molecules (Basel, Switzerland)

Hypolaetin 7-O-glucoside

1. Molecules (Basel, Switzerland)

METHYL GALLATE

1. Molecules (Basel, Switzerland)

Activities

Brasenia schreberi has 2 reported activities identified across 1 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported activities include Antibacterial, Antioxidant.

Antibacterial

1. Microbial ecology

Antioxidant

1. Microbial ecology

Conditions

Brasenia schreberi has 1 reported investigations on conditions identified across 1 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported conditions include antioxidant.

Antioxidant

1. Microbial ecology

Preparations

Brasenia schreberi has 3 reported preparations identified across 1 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported preparations include decoction of leaves, ethanolic extract, mucilage.

Decoction of leaves

1. Molecules (Basel, Switzerland)

Ethanolic extract

1. Molecules (Basel, Switzerland)

Mucilage

1. Microbial ecology