LESSER WATER-PLANTAIN

Baldellia Ranunculoides

Water-Plantain [Alismataceae]  

month8may month8jun month8june month8jul month8july month8aug month8sep month8sept

flower
flower8lilac flower8pink
 		 inner
inner8yellow
 		 morph
morph8actino
 		 petals
petalsZ3
 		 stem
stem8round
 		 smell
smell8coriander smell8curry
coriander

8th July 2009, Ainsdale Reservoir, Southport. Photo: © RWD
In amongst much taller reeds.


8th July 2009, Ainsdale Reservoir, Southport. Photo: © RWD
Has buttercup-like globular spiky fruiting heads, but un-like buttercups, only three petals. The leaves are slender or narrow lanceolate when above the water and gradually taper towards the water. Under the water they are strap-like and confusable with those of Tapegrass and other aquatics.


8th July 2009, Ainsdale Reservoir, Southport. Photo: © RWD
The spiky globular fruiting heads are on 4cm stalks in spherical space with a single flower.


8th July 2009, Ainsdale Reservoir, Southport. Photo: © RWD
Un-opened flower buds are reddish green and nearly spherical. The sepals of open flowers green and yellow with reddish streaks. Petals lilac or pink.


2nd July 2009, Ainsdale Reservoir, Southport. Photo: © RWD
The three petals curled up in partially open flowers, which open from morning until mid-day. Greeny-yellow centre is spherical, and due to become the fruiting head in due course. Three fluorescent green sepals.


2nd July 2009, Ainsdale Reservoir, Southport. Photo: © RWD
The petals are bright yellow in the centre of the flower and a faint lilac pink towards the periphery. Six short stamens bear small anthers with yellow pollen. Translucent veins traverse the petals. The developing fruit in the centre is spherical.


2nd July 2009, Ainsdale Reservoir, Southport. Photo: © RWD
The spiky fruiting head is globular and knobbly, rather like those of Buttercups (hence the latin name), and quite un-like those of Water-Plantain which has torroidal-shaped fruits.


2nd July 2009, Ainsdale Reservoir, Southport. Photo: © RWD
Aerial leaves long and pointed, narrowing near the base. Submerged leaves ribbon-like.

Some similarities to : Narrow-leaved Water-plantain and, to a much lesser extent, Water-Plantain which actually belongs to a differing Genus but within the same family.

Distinguishing Feature : The Buttercup-type fruits: spherical but pointedly knobbly.

No relation to : Other Plantains [plants with similar names]. Water-Plantains belong in a differing Family to Plantains.

Grows in shallow still fresh water. When crushed, the leaves smell of Coriander.

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Distribution
family8Water-Plantain family8Alismataceae
BSBI maps
genus8Baldellia
Baldellia

LESSER WATER-PLANTAIN

Baldellia Ranunculoides

Water-Plantain [Alismataceae]