Menyanthaceae

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Menyanthaceae

Menyanthaceae are a family

Family (biology)

In biological classification, family is a taxonomic rank. Exact details of formal nomenclature depend on the Nomenclature Codes which applies....
of aquatic and wetland plants in the order Asterales

Asterales

The Asterales are an order of dicotyledonous flowering plants which include the composite family Asteraceae and its related families.The order is cosmopolitic, and includes mostly herbaceous species, although a small number of trees and shrubs is also present....
. There are approximately 60-70 species in five genera

Genus

A genus is a low-level taxonomic rank used in the classification of living and fossil organisms. The taxonomic ranks are domain , kingdom , phylum, class , order , family , genus, and species....
distributed worldwide. The simple or compound leaves

Leaf

In botany, a leaf is an above-ground plant Organ specialized for photosynthesis. For this purpose, a leaf is typically flat and thin, to expose the cells containing chloroplast to light over a broad area, and to allow light to penetrate fully into the tissues....
arise alternately

Phyllotaxis

In botany, phyllotaxis or phyllotaxy is the arrangement of the leaf on the plant stem of a plant....
from a creeping rhizome

Rhizome

In botany, a rhizome is a characteristically horizontal plant stem of a plant that is usually found underground, often sending out roots and shoots from its nodes....
. In the submersed aquatic genus Nymphoides
Nymphoides

Nymphoides is a genus of aquatic flowering plants in the family Menyanthaceae. The genus name refers to their resemblance to the water lily Nymphaea....
, leaves are floating and support a lax, umbel

Umbel

An umbel is an inflorescence which consists of a number of short flower stalks which are equal in length and spread from a common point, somewhat like umbrella ribs....
late or racemose

Raceme

A raceme is a type of inflorescence that is unbranched and indeterminate growth and bears pedicellate flowers — flowers having short floral stalks called Pedicel s — along the axis....
inflorescence

Inflorescence

An inflorescence is a group or cluster of flowers arranged on a Plant stem that is composed of a main branch or a complicated arrangement of branches....
. In other genera the inflorescence is erect and consists of one (e.g., Liparophyllum
Liparophyllum

Liparophyllum is a monotypic genus of aquatic flowering plants in the family Menyanthaceae. The name Liparophyllum comes from the Greek language words liparos, meaning "fat, shiny or oily", and phyllon, meaning "leaf"....
) to many flowers.

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Encyclopedia

Menyanthaceae are a family

Family (biology)

Asterales

Genus

Leaf

Phyllotaxis

In botany, phyllotaxis or phyllotaxy is the arrangement of the leaf on the plant stem of a plant....
from a creeping rhizome

Rhizome

Umbel

An umbel is an inflorescence which consists of a number of short flower stalks which are equal in length and spread from a common point, somewhat like umbrella ribs....
late or racemose

Raceme

Inflorescence

Entomophily

Entomophily is a form of pollination whereby pollen is distributed by insects, particularly bees, Lepidoptera , fly and beetles. Entomophilous species frequently evolve mechanisms to make themselves more appealing to insects, e.g., brightly-colored or scented flowers, nectar, or appealing shapes and patterns....
flowers are five-parted and either yellow or white. The petals are ciliate

Ciliate

The ciliates are a group of protists characterized by the presence of hair-like organelles called cilium, which are identical in structure to flagellum but typically shorter and present in much larger numbers with a different undulating pattern than flagella....
or adorned with lateral wings. Fruit type is a capsule

Capsule (fruit)

In botany a capsule is a type of simple, dry fruit produced by many species of flowering plants. A capsule is a dehiscent structure composed of two or more carpels, that, at maturity, split apart to release the seeds within....
.

Species of Menyanthaceae are found worldwide. The genera Menyanthes
Menyanthes

Menyanthes is a monotypic genus of flowering plant in the family Menyanthaceae. The name Menyanthes comes from the Ancient Greek words menyein, meaning "disclosing", and anthos, meaning "flower", in reference to the sequential opening of flowers on the inflorescence....
and Nephrophyllidium
Nephrophyllidium

Nephrophyllidium is a monotypic genus of aquatic flowering plants in the family Menyanthaceae. They are wetland plants with basal reniform and crenate leaves....
grow only in the northern hemisphere, while Liparophyllum
Liparophyllum

Liparophyllum is a monotypic genus of aquatic flowering plants in the family Menyanthaceae. The name Liparophyllum comes from the Greek language words liparos, meaning "fat, shiny or oily", and phyllon, meaning "leaf"....
and Villarsia
Villarsia

Villarsia is a genus of aquatic flowering plants in the family Menyanthaceae. The genus is named for the French botanist Dominique Villars ....
occur only in the southern hemisphere. Nymphoides
Nymphoides

Nymphoides is a genus of aquatic flowering plants in the family Menyanthaceae. The genus name refers to their resemblance to the water lily Nymphaea....
species have a cosmopolitan distribution

Cosmopolitan distribution

In biogeography, a biological category of living things is said to have cosmopolitan distribution if this category can be found almost anywhere around the world....
.

Menyanthaceae species are of economic importance as ornamental water garden plants, with Nymphoides
Nymphoides

Nymphoides is a genus of aquatic flowering plants in the family Menyanthaceae. The genus name refers to their resemblance to the water lily Nymphaea....
being most commonly traded. The practice of growing non-native water plants has led to several species becoming naturalized

Naturalisation (biology)

In biology, naturalisation is the process when foreign or cultivated plants or animals have spread into the wild, where they multiply by natural regeneration....
or invasive

Invasive species

Invasive species is a phrase with several definitions. The first definition expresses the phrase in terms of non-indigenous species that adversely affect the habitats they invade economically, environmentally or ecologically....
.

Dimorphic heterostyly

Heterostyly

Heterostyly is a unique form of polymorphism and herkogamy in flowers. In a heterostylous species, two or three different morphological types of flowers, termed morphs, exist in the population....
occurs in all genera but Liparophyllum
Liparophyllum

Liparophyllum is a monotypic genus of aquatic flowering plants in the family Menyanthaceae. The name Liparophyllum comes from the Greek language words liparos, meaning "fat, shiny or oily", and phyllon, meaning "leaf"....
. In addition, four species of Nymphoides
Nymphoides

Nymphoides is a genus of aquatic flowering plants in the family Menyanthaceae. The genus name refers to their resemblance to the water lily Nymphaea....
are dioecious.