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Volume I (1961) - Flora of New Zealand Indigenous Tracheophyta - Psilopsida, Lycopsida, Filicopsida, Gymnospermae, Dicotyledons
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Myriophyllum L.

MYRIOPHYLLUM L., 1753

Fls hermaphrodite and strongly protandrous, or unisexual with ♂ above ♀; solitary in lf axils, subtended by bracteoles. Calyx-lobes 4 or 0, free; petals 4 or 0, cucullate, glab.; stamens 8 or 4, anthers linear; ovary 4-celled, styles 4, short, stigmas papillose or plumose. Fr. small, separating into 2-4 1-seeded mericarps. Glab. herbs of water and wet places; lvs opp., alt., or whorled, entire, toothed, or pinnately divided, submerged lvs often with capillary segs. About 40 spp., cosmopolitan. Of the 5 N.Z. spp. 2 are endemic.

Key

1
Lvs all opp. and entire; petals dark
2
Lvs mostly whorled, lower pinnate to pinnatifid; petals pale
3
2
Lvs obovate, < 5 mm. long; sepals wanting
1. votschii
Lvs linear, often 10 mm. long; sepals present
2. pedunculatum
3
Upper lvs all pinnatifid, often 3 cm. long; fr. c. 3 mm. across
3. robustum
Upper lvs not all pinnatifid, rarely > 2 cm. long; fr. c. 1·2 mm. across
4
4
Upper lvs gradually becoming narrower and simpler, the uppermost finally linear; bracteoles triangular, minutely serrulate
4. propinquum
Upper lvs becoming broader, often rather abruptly, the uppermost ovate-oblong and us. entire; bracteoles lanceolate, definitely toothed
5. elatinoides
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