Trithuria bibracteata is a species of aquatic plant in the family Hydatellaceae endemic to Western Australia.[1]

Trithuria bibracteata
Scientific classification Edit this classification
Kingdom: Plantae
Clade: Tracheophytes
Clade: Angiosperms
Order: Nymphaeales
Family: Hydatellaceae
Genus: Trithuria
Species:
T. bibracteata
Binomial name
Trithuria bibracteata
Trithuria bibracteata is endemic to Western Australia[1]

Description

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Vegetative characteristics

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Trithuria bibracteata is a small, annual, aquatic herb[2] with simple, linear, 5-20 mm long, and 0.4 mm wide leaves.[3] The red plants are 1 cm wide,[4] and max. 2 cm high.[3] The short stem bears max. 2 mm long hairs.[4]

Generative characteristics

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It is monoecious,[3] and the reproductive units ("flowers") are bisexual.[5] The reproductive units are sessile,[4] or pedunculate.[6] The reproductive unit consists of two lanceolate, 2-3 mm long, and 1.2 mm wide involucral bracts, 1-2 stamens, and 6-10 carpels.[4] The dehiscent fruit[3] bears 0.4-0.6 mm long,[4] desiccation-tolerant,[7] black to brown,[8] ellipsoid to ovoid seeds,[3] which require light to germinate.[9][10] Flowering occurs from September to November.[2][3]

Distribution

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It occurs in the Southwest region of the state Western Australia.[2][3]

Taxonomy

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It was described in 1983 as Trithuria bibracteata Stapf ex D.A.Cooke by David Alan Cooke based on previous work by Otto Stapf.[1][4] The type specimen was collected by R. D. Royce in Boyanup, Western Australia in l947.[4] It is placed in Trithuria sect. Trithuria.[11]

Etymology

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The specific epithet bibracteata is derived from the prefix bi- meaning two,[12][13] and -bracteata meaning "with bracts".[14][15] The reproductive units have two bracts.[4]

Conservation

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It is not threatened.[2]

Ecology

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Habitat

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It occurs in clay and mud along stream edges,[2] ephemeral pools,[16] and swamps.[8][9] It inhabits winter-wet habitats,[2][9] which dry in the Australian summer from December to February.[9] It can occur sympatrically with Trithuria occidentalis.[17]

Seed dispersal

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The desiccation-tolerant seeds[7] may be dispersed by water birds.[10]

References

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  1. ^ a b c d "Trithuria bibracteata Stapf ex D.A.Cooke". Plants of the World Online. Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew. Retrieved 29 October 2024.
  2. ^ a b c d e f Western Australian Herbarium & Department of Biodiversity, Conservation and Attractions. (n.d.). Trithuria bibracteata D.A.Cooke. Florabase—the Western Australian Flora. Retrieved October 29, 2024, from https://florabase.dbca.wa.gov.au/browse/profile/1139
  3. ^ a b c d e f g Trithuria bibracteata Stapf ex D.A.Cooke. (n.d.). Atlas of Living Australia. Retrieved October 29, 2024, from https://bie.ala.org.au/species/https://id.biodiversity.org.au/node/apni/2914405#overview
  4. ^ a b c d e f g h Cooke, D. A. (1983). Two Western Australian Hydatellaceae. Muelleria, 5, 123-125.
  5. ^ Taylor, M. L., Macfarlane, T. D., & Williams, J. H. (2010). Reproductive ecology of the basal angiosperm Trithuria submersa (Hydatellaceae). Annals of Botany, 106(6), 909-920.
  6. ^ Sokoloff, D. D., Remizowa, M. V., Yadav, S. R., & Rudall, P. J. (2010). Development of reproductive structures in the sole Indian species of Hydatellaceae, Trithuria konkanensis, and its morphological differences from Australian taxa. Australian Systematic Botany, 23(4), 217-228.
  7. ^ a b Dalziell, E. L., Funnekotter, B., Mancera, R. L., & Merritt, D. J. (2019). Seed storage behaviour of tropical members of the aquatic basal angiosperm genus Nymphaea L.(Nymphaeaceae). Conservation Physiology, 7(1), coz021.
  8. ^ a b Tillich, H. J., Tuckett, R., & Facher, E. (2007). Do Hydatellaceae belong to the monocotyledons or basal angiosperms? Evidence from seedling morphology. Willdenowia, 37(2), 399-406.
  9. ^ a b c d Tuckett, R. E., Merritt, D. J., Rudall, P. J., Hay, F., Hopper, S. D., Baskin, C. C., ... & Dixon, K. W. (2010). A new type of specialized morphophysiological dormancy and seed storage behaviour in Hydatellaceae, an early-divergent angiosperm family. Annals of Botany, 105(6), 1053-1061.
  10. ^ a b Sokoloff, D. D., Remizowa, M. V., Macfarlane, T. D., Yadav, S. R., & Rudall, P. J. (2011). Hydatellaceae: a historical review of systematics and ecology. Rheedea, 21(2), 115-138.
  11. ^ Iles, W. J. D. (2013). The phylogeny and evolution of two ancient lineages of aquatic plants (Doctoral dissertation, University of British Columbia).
  12. ^ Paleontological Research Institution, Ithaca, New York. (n.d.). Greek & Latin in Botanical Terminology. Digital Atlas of Ancient Life. Retrieved October 29, 2024, from https://www.digitalatlasofancientlife.org/learn/embryophytes/botanical-terminology/
  13. ^ Glossary A-H. (n.d.). Missouri Botanical Garden. Retrieved October 29, 2024, from https://www.mobot.org/MOBOT/research/APweb/top/glossarya_h.html
  14. ^ A Grammatical Dictionary of Botanical Latin. (n.d.-c). Missouri Botanical Garden. Retrieved October 29, 2024, from http://www.mobot.org/mobot/latindict/keyDetail.aspx?keyWord=bracteate
  15. ^ Baptisia bracteata var. leucophaea  - Plant Finder. (n.d.). Missouri Botanical Garden. Retrieved October 29, 2024, from https://www.missouribotanicalgarden.org/PlantFinder/PlantFinderDetails.aspx?taxonid=290598&isprofile=0&n=1
  16. ^ Sokoloff, D. D., Remizowa, M. V., Macfarlane, T. D., Tuckett, R. E., Ramsay, M. M., Beer, A. S., ... & Rudall, P. J. (2008). Seedling diversity in Hydatellaceae: implications for the evolution of angiosperm cotyledons. Annals of Botany, 101(1), 153-164.
  17. ^ Department of Environment and Conservation (2012) Western Trithuria (Trithuria occidentalis) Interim Recovery Plan 2012–2017. Interim Recovery Plan No. 327. Department of Environment and Conservation, Western Australia