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Waterwort
Elatine triandra
ミゾハコベ
A small annual herb growing in shallow waters of rice paddies and ponds throughout Japan. Stems are creeping or floating in water. Leaves are small, elliptical, and opposite. In summer, extremely small white to pale pink flowers appear in leaf axils.
Identification Points
- ✓Very small elliptical opposite leaves
- ✓Grows at water edges to submerged in rice paddies and shallow ponds
- ✓Flowers are extremely small and white
Habitat
Shallow waters of rice paddies, ponds, and wetlands
Season
July–September (flowers)
Morphological TraitsAI-estimated, needs verification
Growth form
Herb
Leaf arrangement
Opposite
Leaf shape
Round
Habitat
Aquatic
Leaf type
Simple
Venation
Pinnate
Stipules
Present
Leaf dissection
Undivided
Flower symmetry
Actinomorphic
Ovary position
Superior
Plant sex
Hermaphrodite
Phylogenetic Positionミゾハコベ科 →
Phylogenetic Position
Angiosperms > Eudicots > Core eudicots > Malpighiales > Elatinaceae
Divergence Era
Paleogene
Evolution Notes
Elatinaceae is a small family consisting solely of small aquatic plants, characterized by trimerous flowers (3 petals and 3 stamens). Sensitive to pesticides and herbicides, it serves as an environmental indicator of paddy field ecosystems.
View on evolution timeline →Sources & References
AI-generated, needs verification