Podostemaceae
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 Mourera fluviatilis
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The Podostemaceae (riverweed family) is a family in the order Malpighiales. It comprises about 50 genera and 250 species of more or less thalloid aquatic herbs. Riverweeds adhere to hard surfaces (generally rock) in rapids and waterfalls of rivers. They are found mostly in tropical and subtropical areas world-wide.[1] Many species are found in a very small geographic area (perhaps even just a single river or waterfall).[2] Riverweeds are submerged when water levels are high, but during the dry season they live a terrestrial existence, flowering at this time. Their root anatomy is specialized for the purpose of clinging to rocks, and in fact details of the root structure are one of the ways of classifying riverweeds.[3]
See also: Etudes sur la famille des Podostemacees by Eugenius Warming
[edit] References
- ^ Podostemales. Encyclopædia Britannica Online.
- ^ Podostemaceae. Institute of Systematic Botany, University of Zurich.
- ^ Satoshi Koi, Rieko Fujinami, Namiko Kubo, Ikue Tsukamoto, Rie Inagawa, Ryoko Imaichi and Masahiro Kato (2006). "Comparative anatomy of root meristem and root cap in some species of Podostemaceae and the evolution of root dorsiventrality". American Journal of Botany 93 (5): 682–692.
[edit] External links
Masahiro Kato, The vague form created by the environment: Podostemaceae, Biohistory Journal, Spring, 2004.
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