Roundfruit Blyxa

Blyxa aubertii is known in the Western Hemisphere only from a few collections in southern Louisiana.

A caulescent, glabrous herb. Leaves radical, grass-like, linear, 10-35 cm long, 5-10 mm broad, setose-acute. entire, 5-7 (-9)-nerved, membranous. Flowers bisexual, solitary. Spathe 4-6 (-10) cm long, lobes obtuse; peduncles as long as or longer than leaves, terete. Sepals linear, (6-) 7-15 mm long, ± cucullate at apex. Petals 1.5-2 cm long. Stamens 3, filaments 3-6 mm long, with c. 1-2 mm long, linear anthers. Ovary as long as spathe, with up to 10 cm long rostrum; styles 6-10 mm long. Furit linear, 3-6 cm long. Seeds elliptic, 1-2 mm long, with 8 longitudinal rows of obscure tubercles or smooth, not tailed at the ends.

Stems 0.5--3 cm. Leaves 2.5--60 ´ 0.2--1.2 cm, margins finely serrate, apex acute. Inflorescences: peduncles to 50 cm [sessile]; spathe flattened. Flowers mostly solitary, rarely paired, projected to water surface; stamens 3. Fruits terete, 20--80 ´ to 5 mm. Seeds 1.2--1.8 mm.

Madagascar, E. Himalaya, India, Malaysia, New Guinea, Japan, Korea, N. Australia.

Distribution: Madagascar, Pakistan, India, Burma, Malaysia. Korea, Japan, New Guinea, N. Australia, Mozambique; introduced in U.S.A.

introduced; La.; native, Asia; Africa; Australia.

700-1200 m

Fl. Per.: December-January.

Flowering summer--fall.

Shallow water of pools and lakes; introduced, 0--50m.