Practical
Plants

Callitriche hermaphroditica

Water Starwort

a perennial evergreen member of the Callitriche genus in the family Callitrichaceae.

No photo available

Taxonomy and growth

Life cycle
perennial
Foliage
evergreen
Fertility
Water
Flower type
monoecious
Pollinators
Water

Environment

Range
Most of Europe, including Britain, north to Finland and N. E. Russia.
Habitat
Ponds and lakes to 380 metres in Yorkshire[2].
Light
full sun
Shade tolerance
no shade
Water
aquatic
Hardiness
Zone 6+
Soil textures
sandy, loamy, clay
Soil pH
acid, neutral, alkaline
Tolerates Nutritionally Poor Soil
No
Drought
intolerant

Propagation

This section contains historical Plants For A Future notes marked noncommercial.

Seed - we have no details on this species but would suggest that the seed will be best sown in a greenhouse as soon as it is ripe in a pot standing in about 5cm of water. It is quite likely that the seed has a short viability, especially if it is allowed to become dry. When large enough to handle, prick the seedlings out into individual pots and grow them on in trays of water in the greenhouse for at least their first winter, planting them out into their permanent positions in late spring or early summer, after the last expected frosts. Cuttings can be taken at any time in the growing season. They root easily, even if just placed in a pot of water.

Cultivation

This section contains historical Plants For A Future notes marked noncommercial.

A water plant, it should be allowed to root into the soil at the bottom of the pond or be grown in a pot in the pond[3]. This species is an excellent oxygenator of the water and a good food source for fish[1][3]. It provides a good habitat for wildlife in the pond, the leaves holding spawn well[1]. This species belongs to one of only two known dicot genera where pollination taks place under water[4]. Plants remain active all winter[1].

References

  1. F. Chittendon. RHS Dictionary of Plants plus Supplement. 1956 Oxford University Press 1951-00-00

    ↩1↩2↩3

  2. Clapham, Tootin and Warburg. Flora of the British Isles. Cambridge University Press 1962-00-00

    ↩

  3. Huxley. A. The New RHS Dictionary of Gardening. 1992. MacMillan Press 1992-00-00 ISBN 0-333-47494-5

    ↩1↩2

  4. Diggs, Jnr. G.M.; Lipscomb. B. L. & O'Kennon. R. J Illustrated Flora of North Central Texas Botanical Research Institute, Texas. 1999-00-00 http://artemis.austincollege.edu/acad/bio/gdiggs/NCTXpdf.htm

    ↩

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