Trithuria inconspicua subsp. brevistyla
Species of aquatic plant From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
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Trithuria inconspicua subsp. brevistyla is a subspecies of Trithuria inconspicua in the family Hydatellaceae endemic to the South Island of New Zealand.[1]
| Trithuria inconspicua subsp. brevistyla | |
|---|---|
Scientific classification  | |
| Kingdom: | Plantae |
| Clade: | Tracheophytes |
| Clade: | Angiosperms |
| Order: | Nymphaeales |
| Family: | Hydatellaceae |
| Genus: | Trithuria |
| Species: | Cheeseman |
| Subspecies: | T. i. subsp. brevistyla |
| Trinomial name | |
| Trithuria inconspicua subsp. brevistyla K.A.Ford[1] | |
 | |
| Trithuria inconspicua subsp. brevistyla is endemic to the South island of New Zealand[1] | |
| Synonyms[1] | |
Vegetative characteristics
It is a 10–40 mm tall,[2][3] aquatic, perennial, rhizomatous herb with adventitious roots[3] as well as 8–37 mm long, and 0.4–0.6 mm wide leaves.[2]
Generative characteristics
Only female plants are known. Male reproductive structures have not been observed.[4][2] The 1–5, unisexual, female reproductive units ("flowers") consist of glabrous, terete, 1–6 mm long, and 0.3–0.4 mm wide stalks,[2] which do not elongate with maturity,[2][4][3] 2–4(–7) ovate, 1.6–4.0 mm long involucral bracts, and 9–25 carpels[2] with short stigmatic hairs. The globose to ovoid fruit[3][2][4][5] is 0.39–0.56 mm long, and 0.3–0.5 mm wide.[2] It is an apomictic species. Flowering occurs from January to February and fruiting occurs from March to May.[6][2]
Differentiation from Trithuria inconspicua subsp. inconspicua
It differs from the autonymous subspecies Trithuria inconspicua subsp. inconspicua in respect to the morphology of the reproductive structures (stalks not elongating with maturity,[2][4][3] short stigmatic hairs, and globose to ovoid fruits[3][2][4][5]). In addition, male reproductive structures are known from Trithuria inconspicua subsp. inconspicua,[5] whereas Trithuria inconspicua subsp. brevistyla is considered to be female only.[4][2]
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It is endemic to South Island, New Zealand.[2]
It was published by Kerry Alison Ford in 2019.[2] The type specimen was collected by K.A.Ford and R.D.Smissen in Mary Bay, Lake Hauroko, Southland, New Zealand on the 12th of March 2015.[7] Trithuria inconspicua is placed in Trithuria sect. Hydatella.[8]
It was elevated to the status of the separate species Trithuria brevistyla (K.A.Ford) de Lange & Mosyakin by Peter James de Lange and Sergei Leonidovich Mosyakin within the same year of the original publication (2019),[4] yet there appears to be no consensus for this decision. Trithuria brevistyla (K.A.Ford) de Lange & Mosyakin is treated as a synonym of Trithuria inconspicua subsp. brevistyla K.A.Ford by several sources,[9][6][1][10] but others accept the designation as a separate species.[3][11]
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The subspecific epithet brevistyla, from the Latin brevis meaning "brief", and stylus meaning "pencil", refers to the short stigmatic hairs found in this subspecies.[6][10][2]
It is classified as Nationally Endangered (E).[12] The total area of its habitat is ≤ 100 ha (1 km²).[11]
It occurs in lakes[12] at depths of 0.3–2 m, where it grows in gravel, silt, and sand substrates. Rarely during dry seasons it becomes exposed above the water level.[2]
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