Spirodela punctata

Names and Synonyms

Scientific Names

Accepted name

Synonyms

• Landoltia punctata
• Spirodela biperforata
• Lemna punctata
• Spirodela intermedia

Regional and Traditional Names

Sources: Wikidata, Catalogue of Life

Taxonomical Classification

This plant, Spirodela punctata, belongs to the kingdom Plantae and is classified under the phylum Streptophyta within the class Equisetopsida. It is further categorized under the subclass Magnoliidae and the order Alismatales, falling into the family Araceae. Finally, it is identified by its specific genus, Spirodela.

Sources: The World Checklist of Vascular Plants (WCVP)

Distribution

This plant exhibits a broad geographical distribution across several key regions in Asia. Within the Indian Subcontinent, it can be found throughout India and specifically in the state of Assam. Its presence extends into Indo-China, where it is documented in both Thailand and Vietnam. Furthermore, the species reaches into the Malesia region, specifically within the Philippines. This wide range highlights the diverse ecological environments the plant is able to inhabit.

Sources: The World Checklist of Vascular Plants (WCVP)

Botanical Identification

Ecology

The ecology of Spirodela punctata is characterized by its distribution across a vast altitudinal gradient, ranging from sea level up to a maximum elevation of 3020 m AMSL. It is primarily found in lowland habitats, where it thrives in aquatic environments that provide the necessary nutrient availability and stable water conditions for its growth.

Elevational range max:

3020 m AMSL

Elevational range min:

0 m AMSL

Habitat :

Lowland

Life history

The life history of Spirodela punctata is characterized by its existence as a perennial organism that maintains a consistent presence within its aquatic habitat. As a hydrophyte, it is specialized for life in water, utilizing its floating structure to thrive in lentic environments. Its physiological strategy is defined by an evergreen nature, allowing it to retain its functional structures throughout its active growth periods. Furthermore, its survival strategy aligns with the cryptophyte life form, relying on specialized structures to endure varying environmental conditions within its niche.

Deciduousness :

evergreen

Life form :

hydrophyte

Life form :

cryptophyte

Lifecycle :

perennial

Morphology

The morphology of Spirodela punctata is characterized by its specialized aquatic lifestyle, functioning as a fully aquatic organism. As a small-statured herb, it specifically exhibits a forb growth form, lacking any climbing tendencies and remaining entirely self-supporting within its watery environment. The plant is non-woody in structure, reflecting its delicate, herbaceous nature, and it does not function as an epiphyte, remaining terrestrial in its biological classification rather than growing on other plants. Furthermore, it is an independent organism, existing without any parasitic relationship to its surroundings. Due to its minute size, it maintains a very low plant height, reaching a maximum of only 0.01 m.

Aquatic :

aquatic

Climber :

self-supporting

Epiphyte :

terrestrial

Growth form :

herb

Growth form :

forb

Parasite :

independent

Plant height max:

0.01 m

Woodiness :

non-woody

Physiology

The physiology of Spirodela punctata is characterized by specialized morphological adaptations in its leaf-like structures, known as fronds, which serve as the primary sites for metabolic activity. These fronds exhibit significant variability in dimensions, with a minimum leaf length of 0.2 cm and a maximum leaf length reaching 0.5 cm. Correspondingly, the width of these structures fluctuates between a minimum of 0.12 cm and a maximum of 0.25 cm, facilitating efficient surface area management for buoyancy and nutrient absorption. From a nutritional standpoint, the plant does not function as a nitrogen fixer, meaning it relies on the uptake of dissolved inorganic nitrogen from its aquatic environment rather than converting atmospheric nitrogen into usable forms.

Leaf length max:

0.5 cm

Leaf length min:

0.2 cm

Leaf width max:

0.25 cm

Leaf width min:

0.12 cm

Nitrogen fixer :

no

Reproduction

The reproduction of Spirodela punctata is characterized by a versatile strategy involving both sexual and asexual processes. Asexual reproduction is present, providing a reliable means for rapid population expansion. When engaging in sexual reproduction, the plant is bisexual, though it lacks the capacity for self-fertilization. Its pollination strategy involves both abiotic and insect-driven syndromes to facilitate genetic exchange. Regarding seed characteristics, the plant produces no measurable seed mass, and the number of seeds per fruit is recorded as zero, indicating that its reproductive success is heavily reliant on other methods. Dispersal is achieved through a combination of hydrochorous mechanisms, utilizing water for movement, and epizoochorous methods, where propagules are transported via attachment to animals.

Dispersal syndrome :

hydrochorous

Dispersal syndrome :

epizoochorous

Pollination syndrome :

insect

Pollination syndrome :

abiotic

Reproduction asexual :

present

Reproduction sexual :

bisexual

Seed mass mean:

0 g

Seeds_per_fruit :

0

Self fertilization :

absent

Sources: Global Inventory of Floras and Traits (GIFT)

Chemicals

Spirodela punctata has 2 reported phytochemicals identified across 0 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported chemicals include STARCH, sucrose.

STARCH

1. Frontiers in plant science

sucrose

1. Frontiers in plant science