Myosoton aquaticum
Content
Description
Perennial or annual prostrate or erect herbs.
Leaves thin, ovate to elliptic, 15-65(-80) by 5-30 mm, base obtuse or cordate, apex acuminate, nerves 3, the lower ones subsessile or with a short petiole up to c. 8 mm;
Inflorescence a terminal open cyme with 5-20 flowers;
Flowers 10-15 mm diameter.
Sepals 5, free, ovate, c. 4.5 by 2.5 mm, with scarious margin, acute mucronate, outside glandular hairy.
Petals 5, white, divided almost to the base, slightly longer than the sepals.
Stamens 10, filaments dilated at the base, anthers orbicular, yellowish or pale violet, sometimes abortive.
Ovary unilocular;
Capsule ovoid, longer than calyx, opening by 5, shortly bifid, blunt teeth.
Seeds up to 20 per capsule, small, reniform, tuberculate, brown.
Distribution
Aceh present, Asia-Tropical, Berastagi present, Northern Sumatra present, Temperate Eurasia present, tropical Asia to China, Japan, Korea, Vietnam, and Thailand present
Temperate Eurasia, widely introduced in tropical Asia to China, Japan, Korea, Vietnam, and Thailand. In Malesia only recorded from northern Sumatra (Aceh, Berastagi).
Taxonomy
Some authors include this species in the genus Stellaria. Here the viewpoint of Bittrich, l.c., and other recent floristic works in Europe and Asia have been followed.
Citation
Jalas & Suominen 1983 – In: Atlas Fl. Eur.: 122
Mizush. 1966: Fl. E. Himal.: 82
Moench 1992 – In: Fl. Thailand: 422
Ying 1996: p. 373. – In: Fl. Taiwan, ed. 2: f. 174
Ke Ping 1996: p. 74. – In: Fl. Reip. Pop. Sin.: f. 16: 1-9
Lu Dequan & M.G. Gilbert 2001 – In: Fl. China: 38
Edgew. & Hook. f. 1874 – In: Fl. Brit. India: 229
Hara 1979 – In: Enum. Flow. Pl. Nepal: 57
N.C. Majumdar 1993 – In: Fl. India: 548
Pham-hoàng Hô 1991: p. 934. – In: Ill. Fl. Vietnam: f. 2625
K. Larsen 1989: p. 82. – In: Fl. Camb., Laos & Vietnam: f. 11: 1-6
Fries 1943: Fl. Gén. Indo-Chine: 240
Gagnepain 1909 – In: Fl. Gén. Indo-Chine: 263