Stratiotes aloides
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
| Stratiotes aloides | |
|---|---|
 | |
Scientific classification  | |
| Kingdom: | Plantae |
| Clade: | Tracheophytes |
| Clade: | Angiosperms |
| Clade: | Monocots |
| Order: | Alismatales |
| Family: | Hydrocharitaceae |
| Genus: | Stratiotes |
| Species: | S. aloides |
| Binomial name | |
| Stratiotes aloides | |
| Synonyms[2] | |
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Stratiotes aloides, commonly known as water-soldier[3][4] or water pineapple, is a submerged aquatic plant native to Europe and northwestern Asia. In Britain it was once common in East Anglia and still is in many places, particularly wet ditches and healthy ponds.[3] It is the only species in the genus Stratiotes.
Ecological aspects
In the summer this plant floats on the water surface with the leaves just above the surface. In the autumn they become covered with a slimy secretion (calcium carbonate) and the whole plant sinks to the bottom to rise again in the spring.[6] Fossils have been found of this plant.[citation needed]
Plants are dioecious. Male and female plants must be grown if seed is required. Only the female plant occurs naturally in Britain, though plants with hermaphrodite flowers are also found occasionally. Seed is never set in Britain, the plants increasing mainly by offsets.[7]
