Pistia

Pistia
Scientific classification
Kingdom: Plantae
(unranked): Angiosperms
(unranked): Monocots
Order: Alismatales
Family: Araceae
Subfamily: Aroideae
Tribe: Pistieae
Genus: Pistia
L.[1]
Species: P. stratiotes
Binomial name
Pistia stratiotes
L.[2]
Range of the genus Pistia
Synonyms[3]
  • Kodda-Pail Adans.
  • Zala Lour.
  • Apiospermum Klotzsch
  • Limnonesis Klotzsch
  • Zala asiatica Lour.
  • Pistia spathulata Michx.
  • Pistia crispata Blume
  • Pistia leprieuri Blume
  • Pistia linguiformis Blume
  • Pistia minor Blume
  • Pistia occidentalis Blume
  • Pistia aegyptiaca Schleid.
  • Pistia commutata Schleid.
  • Pistia obcordata Schleid.
  • Pistia horkeliana Miq.
  • Pistia africana C.Presl
  • Pistia amazonica C.Presl
  • Pistia weigeltiana C.Presl
  • Pistia turpinii K.Koch
  • Apiospermum obcordatum (Schleid.) Klotzsch
  • Limnonesis commutata (Schleid.) Klotzsch
  • Limnonesis friedrichsthaliana Klotzsch
  • Pistia aethiopica Fenzl ex Klotzsch
  • Pistia brasiliensis Klotzsch
  • Pistia cumingii Klotzsch
  • Pistia gardneri Klotzsch
  • Pistia natalensis Klotzsch
  • Pistia schleideniana Klotzsch
  • Pistia texensis Klotzsch

Pistia is a genus of aquatic plant in the arum family, Araceae. The single species it comprises, Pistia stratiotes, is often called water cabbage, water lettuce, Nile cabbage, or shellflower. Its native distribution is uncertain, but probably pantropical; it was first discovered from the Nile near Lake Victoria in Africa. It is now present, either naturally or through human introduction, in nearly all tropical and subtropical fresh waterways. The genus name is derived from the Greek word πιστός (pistos), meaning "water," and refers to the aquatic nature of the plants.[4]

Description

19th century illustration of Pistia stratiotes
Water lettuce in a home aquarium

It is a perennial monocotyledon with thick, soft leaves that form a rosette. It floats on the surface of the water, its roots hanging submersed beneath floating leaves. The leaves can be up to 14 cm long and have no stem. They are light green, with parallel veins, wavy margins and are covered in short hairs which form basket-like structures which trap air bubbles, increasing the plant's buoyancy. The flowers are dioecious, and are hidden in the middle of the plant amongst the leaves. Small green berries form after successful fertilization. The plant can also undergo asexual reproduction. Mother and daughter plants are connected by a short stolon, forming dense mats.

Rails (Rallidae, "tikling"), feeding in Pistia stratiotes, Paombong, Bulacan).

Ecology

Water lettuce is among the world's most productive freshwater aquatic plants. In waters with high nutrient content, particularly those that have been contaminated with human loading of sewage or fertilizers, water lettuce can often exhibit weedy overgrowth behavior. It may also commonly become weedy in hydrologically altered systems such as canals and reservoirs.[5]

It is a common aquatic plant in the southeast United States, particularly in Florida. It was originally noted in Florida by the explorers John and William Bartram during the period of 1765-1774, and fossil reports in Florida dating to the late-Pleistocene (~12,000 BP) and early Holocene (~3,500 BP) indicate its native presence in southeast North America.[6]

Severe overgrowth of water lettuce can block gas exchange at the air-water interface, reducing the oxygen in the water and killing fish. Large mats can also block light, shade native submerged plants, and alter immersed plant communities by crushing them.[7]

Mosquitoes of the genus Mansonia complete their life cycle only in the presence of aquatic plants such as Pistia, laying their eggs under the leaves. The emerging larvae fall into the water within 24 hours and stay attached to the Pistia root (which is rich with air sacs) with the help of a serrated siphon tube for respiration and develop into pupa. The pupa is also attached to the pistia root with the serrated piercing siphon tube. The egg to adult mosquito development is completed within 7 days.[8]

Control

Pistia can be controlled by mechanical harvesters that remove the water lettuce from the water and transport it to disposal on shore. Aquatic herbicides may also be used. Two insects are also being used as a biological control. Adults and larvae of the South American weevil Neohydronomous affinis feed on Pistia leaves, as do the larvae of moth Spodoptera pectinicornis from Thailand. Both are proving to be useful tools in the management of Pistia.

In the Amazon basin, Pistia is a food source of freshwater turtles.[9]

Uses

Water lettuce is often used in tropical aquariums to provide cover for fry and small fish. It is also helpful as it outcompetes algae for nutrients in the water, thereby preventing massive algal blooms.

See also

References

Wikimedia Commons has media related to Pistia stratiotes.
Wikispecies has information related to: Pistia stratiotes
  1. "Genus: Pistia L.". Germplasm Resources Information Network. United States Department of Agriculture. 2006-02-23. Retrieved 2011-09-30.
  2. "Taxon: Pistia stratiotes L.". Germplasm Resources Information Network. United States Department of Agriculture. 2011-05-09. Retrieved 2011-09-30.
  3. Kew World Checklist of Selected Plant Families
  4. Quattrocchi, Umberto (2000). CRC World Dictionary of Plant Names. Volume III: M-Q. CRC Press. p. 2084. ISBN 978-0-8493-2677-6.
  5. Kasulo, V. 2000. The impact of invasive species in African lakes. In: The economics of biological invasions (eds. C. Perrings, M. Williamson and S. Dalmozzone). Pp. 183-207. Cheltenham, UK: Edward Elgar.
  6. Evans JM. Pistia stratiotes L. in the Florida Peninsula: Biogeographic Evidence and Conservation Implications of Native Tenure for an 'Invasive' Aquatic Plant. Conservat Soc 2013;11:233-46; http://www.conservationandsociety.org/article.asp?issn=0972-4923;year=2013;volume=11;issue=3;spage=233;epage=246;aulast=Evans
  7. Ramey, Victor (2001). "Water Lettuce (Pistia stratiotes)". Center for Aquatic and Invasive Plants, University of Florida. Retrieved 26 April 2010.
  8. Park, K (2007). Parks Text Book of Preventive and Social Medicine (19th ed.). Jabalpur India.
  9. Salo, Matti; Sirén, Anders; Kalliola, Risto (20 November 2013). Diagnosing Wild Species Harvest: Resource Use and Conservation. Academic Press. p. 115. ISBN 978-0-12-397755-7. Retrieved 27 January 2016.

"Biogeography of the Pistia clade (Araceae): Based on chloroplast and mitochondrial DNA sequences and Bayesian divergence time inference"

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