Elodea

Elodea is a genus of aquatic plants often called the water weeds. Elodea is native to North America and it is also widely used as aquarium vegetation. The introduction of some species of Elodea into waterways in parts of Europe, Australia, Africa, Asia, and New Zealand has created a significant problem, and it is now considered a noxious weed in these areas.

Species include
Elodea canadensis (American or Canadian Waterweed or Pondweed), is a perennial aquatic plant, or submergent macrophyte, native to most of North America. Young plants initially start with a seedling stem with roots growing in mud at the bottom of the water; further adventitious roots are produced at intervals along the stem, which may hang free in the water or anchor into the bottom. It grows indefinitely at the stem tips, and single specimens may reach lengths of 3 m or more. The leaves are bright green, 6-17 mm long and 1-4 mm broad, borne in whorls of three (rarely two or four) round the stem. It lives entirely underwater, the only exception being the small white or pale purple flowers which float at the surface and are attached to the plant by delicate stalks. It is dioecious, with male and female flowers on different plants. The flowers have three small white petals; male flowers have 4.5-5 mm petals and nine stamens, female flowers have 2-3 mm petals and three fused carpels. The fruit is an ovoid capsule, about 6 mm long containing several seeds that ripen underwater. The seeds are 4-5 mm long, fusiform, glabrous (round), and narrowly cylindrical. It grows rapidly in favorable conditions and can choke shallow ponds, canals, and the margins of some slow-flowing rivers. It requires summer water temperatures of 10-25 °C and moderate to bright lighting. Uses: It is frequently used as an aquarium plant. Propagation is by cuttings.

Elodea nuttallii is a species of waterweed known by the common name western waterweed. This is a perennial aquatic plant which is native to North America where it grows submersed in lakes, rivers, and other shallow water bodies. It is also found in Eurasia, where it is commonly weedy; it is not known as a weed species in its native range. It is sometimes used as an aquarium plant. It is similar to its relative, Elodea canadensis. It has a thin branching stem with whorls of flat leaves at intervals. It bears tiny flowers, the staminate ones abscissing from their stalks and floating away from the plant.

Elodea callitrichoides

Elodea bifoliata

Iochroma

Iochroma is a genus of about 20 species of shrubs and small trees found in the forests of Central and South America. Their flowers are tubular or trumpet-shaped, and may be blue, purple, red, yellow, or white, becoming pulpy berries. The... more >>>

Haplopappus

Haplopappus is a genus of flowering plant in the Asteraceae family


Species
Haplopappus albicans is a species of flowering plant in the Asteraceae family. It is found only in Ecuador. Its natural habitat is... more >>>

Valeriana

Valeriana is a genus of flowering plants in the family Valerianaceae. It includes a number of species of which the best known is the garden valerian Valeriana officinalis. Some species are native to Europe, others to North America and South... more >>>

Templetonia

Templetonia is a genus of flowering plants in the family Fabaceae. They are native to Australia. The genus is named in honour of John Templeton, an Irish naturalist and botanist.


Species
Templetonia... more >>>

Babiana

Babiana Ker Gawler is a genus of flowering plants in the Family Iridaceae comprised of about 80 species. Most of these species (about 49) are found in the southwestern Cape of Africa, with the remainder distributed in Namaqualand and Northern... more >>>