Didiplis

Rafinesque

Atlantic J. 1: 177. 1833.

Common names: Water purslane or starwort
Etymology: Derivation uncertain Greek dis, twice, and diploos, double, possibly alluding to 2 stamens in 4-merous floral tube, or to 2-stamened Didiplis, segregated from 6-stamened Peplis
Treatment appears in FNA Volume 10.
 TaxonIllustrator 
FNA10 P10 Decodon verticillatus.jpgDecodon verticillatus
Didiplis diandra
Heimia salicifolia

Herbs, annual or short-lived perennial, aquatic or amphibious, 0.5–4 dm, glabrous throughout. Stems erect, creeping, floating, or submerged, irregularly branched, frequently rooting at nodes when submerged. Leaves usually opposite, sometimes subalternate or whorled, dimorphic; sessile or subsessile; blade linear when submerged, narrowly elliptic to lanceolate when aerial, base truncate when submerged, tapered when aerial. Inflorescences indeterminate, flowers solitary, axillary, opposite. Flowers sessile, actinomorphic, monostylous; floral-tube perigynous, broadly campanulate; epicalyx segments absent; sepals 4, broadly deltate, 1/2 floral-tube length; petals 0; nectariferous tissue present at ovary-floral tube junction; stamens 2–4; ovary 2-locular; placenta globose; style sturdy, relatively short; stigma capitate. Fruits capsules, walls thin and dry, indehiscent, splitting irregularly. Seeds ca. 25, narrowly obovoid to fusiform, slightly convex-concave; cotyledons ± complanate.

Distribution

c, e United States

Discussion

Species 1.

Didiplis is easily overlooked due to its undistinguished aspect. In the past it has been included in Ammannia, Lythrum, and Peplis. Molecular evidence now strongly supports the sister relationship of Didiplis to Rotala (J. A. Morris et al. 2007).

Selected References

None.

Lower Taxa

... more about "Didiplis"
dehiscent +  and introrse +
Shirley A. Graham +
Rafinesque +
tapered +
brochidodromous +
narrowly elliptic +  and lanceolate +
membranous +
Water purslane or starwort +
complanate +
persistent +
obconic +, cylindrical +, urceolate +, turbinate +  and campanulate +
c +  and e United States +
indehiscent +, septifragal +, septicidal +, loculicidal +  and dehiscence +
2-4-horned +
Derivation uncertain +  and Greek dis, twice, and diploos, double, possibly alluding to 2 stamens in 4-merous floral tube, or to 2-stamened Didiplis, segregated from 6-stamened Peplis +
campanulate +
actinomorphic +  and sessile +
trichomelike +
perennial +, short-lived +  and annual +
amphibious +  and aquatic +
axillary +  and terminal +
subsessile +  and sessile +
whorled +, subalternate +  and opposite +
deciduous +
submerged +  and emergent +
distinct +
1 +  and 1400 +
pinnately-veined +
persistent +, deciduous +  and caducous +
distinct +
0 +  and 8 +
crinkled +
Atlantic J. +
not +  and winged +
convex-concave +, narrowly obovoid +  and fusiform +
alternating +
persistent +
1/2 +  and 4 +
deltate +
2 +  and 4 +
rooting +  and branched +
submerged +  and floating +
4-angled +
capitate +  and punctiform +
petiolate +, subsessile +  and sessile +
not +  and clonal +
aquatic +, amphibious +  and terrestrial +
Didiplis +
Lythraceae +
indehiscent +
indurated +, leathery +  and dry +
1 +  and 2 +