Trithuria konkanensis
Trithuria konkanensis is a species of aquatic plant in the family Hydatellaceae endemic to India.
Description
Vegetative characteristics
It is an annual, green to red, aquatic, 1.3 cm tall herb with numerous linear, erect or spread out, 12 mm long, and 0.8 mm wide leaves produced on reduced stems. The roots are fibrous and unbranched.
Generative characteristics
It is a monoecious species with numerous, bisexual reproductive units. The reproductive units consist of up to 2 mm long peduncles, two linear, 5 mm long, and 0.6 mm wide bracts, as well as 15-20 carpels, which surround the single, red, central stamen. The pollen grains are 16.1–21.1 μm long, and 14.6–18.1 μm wide. It can self-pollinate, but cross-pollination could possibly also occur. Flowering and fruiting occurs from August to September.
Cytology
It is a tetraploid species with a chromosome count of 2n = 40.
Distribution
It is endemic to India. This is unusual for its genus, as it is the only species occurring outside of Australia and New Zealand.
Taxonomy
It was described by Shrirang Ramchandra Yadav and Malapati Kuppuswamy Janarthanam in 1994. The type specimen was collected by S. R. Yadav and M. K. Janarthanam in Maharashtra, India on the 20th of September 1993. It is placed in Trithuria sect. Hamannia.
Etymology
The specific epithet konkanensis references the Konkan region, from which the type specimen was collected.
Ecology
Its habitat consists of ephemeral bodies of water. The substrate is sand and gravel. It occurs sympatrically with Utricularia, Cyperus, Dimeria, and Eriocaulon. The temperature in its habitat ranges from 18 to 35 °C.