Aponogeton

Taxobox
name = "Aponogeton"

---

image_width = 240px
image_caption = "Aponogeton distachyos"
regnum = Plantae
divisio = Magnoliophyta
classis = Liliopsida
ordo = Alismatales
familia = Aponogetonaceae
genus = "Aponogeton"
genus_authority = L.f.
subdivision_ranks = Species
subdivision = See text

"Aponogeton" is a genus of 45 - 50 species of flowering plants, the only genus of the family Aponogetonaceae. The Aponogetonaceae is considered to be allied to the Potamogetonaceae - Najadaceae complex of families.

The name was published in "Supplementum Plantarum" 32: 214 (1782). The name is derived from a geographic location. Some species are used as ornamental plants in aquaria.

Distribution

They are aquatic plants, which are found in tropical to warm temperate regions of Africa, Asia and Australasia.Watson, L. & Dallwitz, M. J. (1992 onwards): [http://delta-intkey.com/angio/www/Aponoget.htm Aponogetonaceae] ]

Aponogeton distachyos originally from South Africa has become naturalised in s. Australia, w. South America and W. Europe.

Individual plants are not always easy to identify due to hybridization (particularly those sold as A. "crispus" - which are often cultivated hybrids with A. "natans").

Generally an Aponogeton from Asia will have a single bloom, while those from African heritage (including Madagascar) will have multiple blooms on the same flower stalk.

Ecology

Many species grow in temporarily still or flowing waters and live through the dry period as a dormant tuber.

They are fully aquatic herbaceous plants with milky sap, becoming dormant during drought conditions. Most species grow from tubers. Most Asian species remain submerged all year round, whilst the starchy tubercles of the African species are able to survive the dry season by shedding their leaves and undergoing a dormant period.

Economic uses

The tubers of several; species are eaten by humans and their livestock. Some are grown as ornamental plants in aquariums or ponds.

elected species

*"Aponogeton abyssinicus" Hochst. ex A.Rich.
*"Aponogeton afroviolaceus" Lye
*"Aponogeton angustifolius" Ait.
*"Aponogeton azureus" H.Bruggen
*"Aponogeton bernerianus" (Decne.) Hook.
*"Aponogeton biovinianus" Baill. ex Jum.
*"Aponogeton bogneri" H.Bruggen
*"Aponogeton crispus" Thunb.
*"Aponogeton desertorum" Zeyh. ex A.Spreng.
*"Aponogeton distachyos" L.f.
*"Aponogeton elongatus" F.Muell. ex Benth.
*"Aponogeton fotianus" J.Raynal
*"Aponogeton junceus" Lehm.
*"Aponogeton longiplumulosus" van Bruggen (1968)
*"Aponogeton madagascariensis" (Mirb.) H.Bruggen
*"Aponogeton natalensis" Oliv.
*"Aponogeton natans" (L.) Engl. & K.Krause
*"Aponogeton nudiflorus" Peter.
*"Aponogeton ranunculiflorus" Jacot Guill. & Marais
*"Aponogeton rehmannii" Oliv.
*"Aponogeton rigidifolius" H.Bruggen
*"Aponogeton stuhlmannii" Engl.
*"Aponogeton subconjugatus" Schumach. & Thonn.
*"Aponogeton troupinii" J.Raynal
*"Aponogeton ulvaceus" Bak.
*"Aponogeton undulatus" Roxb.
*"Aponogeton vallisnerioides" BakerSources:African Flowering Plants Database: [http://www.ville-ge.ch/cjb/bd/africa/resultat.php "Aponogeton"] ] Huxley, A., ed. (1992). "New RHS Dictionary of Gardening". Macmillan ISBN 0-333-47494-5.]

Cultivation

Most are relatively easy to grow in cultivation except the notorious Madagascar Lace Plant (A. "madagascarensis" )

Rest periods

The African species in particular (with the exception of "A. rigidifolius" that has a rhizome and not a tuber) experience a natural rest period, corresponding to their habitat drying out in the wild. The Asian species may also have a rest period, but this is temperature related.

As the plant stops growing it can be taken out of the pond or aquarium and put in a bowl of damp sand. Keep the bowl in a dark, cool place with the sand kept damp for approximately 2 - 3 months at a temperature of about 50 - 64F (10 - 18C) until small leaves are seen to sprout from the tuber when they can be returned to the pond or aquarium to grow away again. [Gesting, B. "Nature and Aquarium"]

References

* Bruggen, H. W. van, Monograph of the genus Aponogeton (Aponogetonaceae), 1985
* Heywood, V. H. (ed), Flowering Plants of the World, OUP, 1978
* Rataj, K. and Horeman, T. J., Aquarium Plants, TFH Publications, 1977

External links

* [http://www.aqualandpetsplus.com/Decor%20Aponogeton.htm "Illustrated Success with easy-growing Aponogeton plants"]
* [http://www.thekrib.com/Plants/Plants/apons-randall.html "Aponogeton Family by Karen Randall"]
* [http://www.csd.net/~cgadd/aqua/ah_main/jun1999.html "Aponogetons by Karen Randall"]