Blyxa japonica explained

Blyixa japonica is a species of plant in the family Hydrocharitaceae.^[1] It is known as Japanese blyxa or dwarf Asian grass.

Description

The flowers are bisexual, actinomorphic and have numerous ovules. It has whorled leaves.^[2] It can be told from the genus Limnobium by its pollen, which has spine-like projections.^[3]

Distribution

The species is native to China, Taiwan, Japan, and Papua New Guinea.^[4] It has naturalized in Italy. In the wild, the species is found in shallow, stagnant water such as rice paddies.^[5]

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.^[5]

B. japonica var. japonica, B. j. var. alternifolia, and B. j. var. recurvifolia are all found in cultivation.^[5]

Notes and References

1. Borthakur . Sashin Kumar . Rediscovery of Blyxa japonica (Miquel) Maximowicz ex Ascherson et Gürke -a hydrophyte from Lakhimpur district of Assam, India . Pleione . 2012 . 6 . 2 . 435–437 . 3 September 2023.
2. Tang . Sai-chun . Wang . Yu-guo . Xia . Nian-he . Liu . Yang . Wei . Fa-nan . Wen . He-qun . Floral Organogenesis of Blyxa japonica (Hydrocharitaceae) . Journal of Tropical and Subtropical Botany . 2002 . 10 . 2 . 139–144 . 10.3969/j.issn.1005-3395.2002.2.007 . 2024-05-21 . 3 September 2023 . en . 1005-3395.
3. D.K. Cook . Christopher . Lüönd . Ruth . A revision of the genus Blyxa (Hydrocharitaceae) . Aquatic Botany . 1 January 1983 . 15 . 1 . 1–52 . 10.1016/0304-3770(83)90098-0 . 1983AqBot..15....1D . 3 September 2023 . 0304-3770.
4. Web site: Millar . Bryce . Blyxa japonica . Tropical Fish Hobbyist Magazine . 3 September 2023.
5. Book: Kasselmann . Christel . Aquarium Plants . 2020 . Teltow, Germany . 978-3-00-064912-7 . 180.