RockPool plant
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RockPool plant
I found a plant growing in a rockpool along Zannichiella melitensis and in my opinion it should be Polygonaceae, Polygonum spp. However I could not really identify the species. The closest I got is P. aviculare but this is not a rock pool plant
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Last edited by MWP admin on Sat Nov 04, 2006 6:05 pm, edited 1 time in total.
Quoting haslam... (or flora Europaea !)
P. bellardii: ...Ochreae longer (up to 1cm)... so not the case
P. arenastrum:
Annual; stems usually less than 30cm long, procumbent, freely branched forming a mat. Leaves 5-20cm x 3-5mm, elliptical or lanceolate, more or less uniform in size. Ochreae silvery-hyaline with few, faint veins, less than jalf as long as internodes. flowers solitary or in few-flowered axillary clusters. Perianth tube at least half as long as segments. Nut 1.5-2.5mm long included in perianth, dull, often with one side much narrower than the other two.
This may be the most common form of P. aviculare aggregate in the Maltese Islands
Plants which have been wrongly referred to P.herniarioides somewhat resemble small P. arenastrum, but they are questionably annual. If perennial they may merit specific status as P. gussonei (P.aviculare var. depressum).
The prostrate thing is against arenastrum but much much much less than you, I am not expert!
P. bellardii: ...Ochreae longer (up to 1cm)... so not the case
P. arenastrum:
Annual; stems usually less than 30cm long, procumbent, freely branched forming a mat. Leaves 5-20cm x 3-5mm, elliptical or lanceolate, more or less uniform in size. Ochreae silvery-hyaline with few, faint veins, less than jalf as long as internodes. flowers solitary or in few-flowered axillary clusters. Perianth tube at least half as long as segments. Nut 1.5-2.5mm long included in perianth, dull, often with one side much narrower than the other two.
This may be the most common form of P. aviculare aggregate in the Maltese Islands
Plants which have been wrongly referred to P.herniarioides somewhat resemble small P. arenastrum, but they are questionably annual. If perennial they may merit specific status as P. gussonei (P.aviculare var. depressum).
The prostrate thing is against arenastrum but much much much less than you, I am not expert!
Very interesting find in a rockpool. It does look like P aviculare, but I think you need open flowers for proper identification.
Its not a specific rockpool species but its not really growing submerged, it has lost all the leaves underwater so its not really aquatic.
Many species can be found in wet soil. Polygonum has a number of species that live near water. There is one which is closely associated with winter pools called P. romanum but its not recorded in Malta.
Did you notice if the same plant is growing elsewhere in the vicinity of the pool?
regards
Stephan
Its not a specific rockpool species but its not really growing submerged, it has lost all the leaves underwater so its not really aquatic.
Many species can be found in wet soil. Polygonum has a number of species that live near water. There is one which is closely associated with winter pools called P. romanum but its not recorded in Malta.
Did you notice if the same plant is growing elsewhere in the vicinity of the pool?
regards
Stephan