Blyxa japonica


Blyixa japonica is a species of plant in the family Hydrocharitaceae. It is known as Japanese blyxa or dwarf Asian grass.

Description

The flowers are bisexual, actinomorphic and have numerous ovules. It has whorled leaves. It can be told from the genus Limnobium by its pollen, which has spine-like projections.

Distribution

The species is native to China, Taiwan, Japan, and Papua New Guinea. It has naturalized in Italy. In the wild, the species is found in shallow, stagnant water such as rice paddies.

Cultivation

The species, along with other members of the genus such as Blyxa aubertii, are common in the aquarium trade. B. japonica is difficult and demanding to grow.
B. japonica var. japonica, B. j. var. alternifolia, and B. j. var. recurvifolia are all found in cultivation.