Spirodela punctata
Spirodelas punctata, commonly known as Spotted Waterweed, is an aquatic plant valued for its unique biological properties. Often found in freshwater ecosystems, it is studied for its potential medicinal applications, particularly regarding its antioxidant and antimicrobial activities, offering promising insights into natural therapeutic developments within traditional herbal medicine.
- Scientific name: Spirodela punctata
- Family: Araceae
- Native range: Asia-Tropical
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.
| Rank | Classification | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Kingdom | Plantae | WCVP |
| Phylum | Streptophyta | WCVP |
| Class | Equisetopsida | WCVP |
| Subclass | Magnoliidae | WCVP |
| Order | Alismatales | WCVP |
| Family | Araceae | WCVP |
| Genus | Spirodela | WCVP |
Common Names
This plant, known scientifically as Spirodella punctata, is identified by various regional and linguistic names depending on the area. In Chinese contexts, including simplified, traditional, and Hong Kong variants, it is referred to as 少根紫萍 (zh-hans, zh-hant, zh-hk). In Poland, it is commonly known as Landoltia punctata (pl), while in Spanish-speaking regions, it is simply referred to as Landoltia (es).| Language | Common Name | Source |
|---|---|---|
| zh-hans | 少根紫萍 | Wikidata |
| zh-hant | 少根紫萍 | Wikidata |
| zh-hk | 少根紫萍 | Wikidata |
| pl | Landoltia punctata | Wikidata |
| es | Landoltia | Wikidata |
| zh | 少根紫萍 | Wikidata |
| nn | prikkandemat | Wikidata |
| vi | Landoltia | Wikidata |
| zh-tw | 紫萍 | Wikidata |
| ja | ヒメウキクサ | Wikidata |
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.
| Region | Area | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Indian Subcontinent | Assam | WCVP |
| Indian Subcontinent | India | WCVP |
| Indo-China | Thailand | WCVP |
| Indo-China | Vietnam | WCVP |
| Malesia | Philippines | WCVP |
| Central America | Costa Rica | WCVP |
| Central America | El Salvador | WCVP |
| Central America | Panamá | WCVP |
| Caribbean | Cuba | WCVP |
| Caribbean | Leeward Is. | WCVP |