虾子草 xia zi cao

Vallisneria alternifolia Roxburgh ex R. Wight, Bot. Misc. 2: 344. 1831; Lagarosiphon alternifolius (Roxburgh ex R. Wight) Druce; L. roxburghii (Planchon) Bentham; Nechamandra roxburghii Planchon.

Leaves 2-7 cm × 1-1.5 mm, midvein slightly distinct, apex acute. Male inflorescence with 60-100 flowers; peduncle translucent; spathe translucent, ca. 5 × 4 mm; male flowers with slender pedicel ca. 0.6 mm; sepals transparent; filaments ca. 0.3 mm. Female spathe tubular, ca. 5 mm, sessile; sepals 0.5-1 × 0.4-0.7 mm; ovary 5-10 mm, flattened, margin serrulate on each side; styles retuse at apex, densely papillate. Fl. and fr. Sep-Oct. 2n = 14.

Ponds, lakes, slow-moving rivers and channels. Guangdong, Guangxi [Bangladesh, India, Myanmar, Nepal, Sri Lanka, Vietnam].