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June 3, 2008 : Hottonia inflata
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Plant Family / Families: Primulaceae
Scientific Name and Author: Hottonia inflata Elliot
Institution: Blackbird State Forest
Name Location: southwest New Castle County, Delaware, USA
Thank you again to David Smith of Delaware, USA for sharing photographs from his state of residence (originals via the BPotD submissions forum). Much appreciated, David.
I was surprised to learn that Hottonia inflata, aka American featherfoil, is a member of the Primulaceae, like Dodecatheon pulchellum and Androsace pyrenaica. Two species of Hottonia are recognized: the eastern North American Hottonia inflata and the Eurasian Hottonia palustris, or water violet.
Despite its North American distribution, little information is available about this annual aquatic online: the best sources seem to be this rare plant factsheet (PDF) via the Maine Natural Areas program and this article from the Connecticut Botanical Society.
Posted by Daniel Mosquin at June 3, 2008 1:34 PM
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Comments
Posted by: Meg Bernstein at June 3, 2008 4:31 PM
OMG - that plant is spectacular! The second photo especially.
Posted by: Eric in SF at June 3, 2008 4:40 PM
once again we have a plant that
is in danger - liveing in florida
i have seen this plant in the early
times when i moved here
picture number two very good indeed
thank you
Posted by: elizabeth a airhart at June 3, 2008 5:57 PM
Wow! An ingigenous North American primrose. Thanks to BPotD, we learn something new every day.
Great work and accolades to Daniel and his many colleague contributors.
Posted by: Knox at June 3, 2008 7:02 PM
wow!! fabulous plant! i'd never have thought it was a primrose!!
Posted by: joclyn at June 3, 2008 7:50 PM
I absolutely love this little gem. It is made up, it seems to me, of at least three different plants, as though it hadn't completely made up it's mind as to where it wanted to go, so, there it sits, in it's own special glory. Thanks for sharing.
Posted by: Sue in Bremerton WA at June 3, 2008 8:02 PM
....holy Menorah...Judas Maccabeus...what an awesome plant....!
Posted by: phillip at June 3, 2008 8:37 PM
I agree, a delightful plant! The photo sequence presented a series of pleasant surprises.
I particularly like the ferny structures just below the water surface (2nd photo). Are these roots? Does the entire plant float on the water, or is it rooted into the earth below?
Could you give an idea of the scale -- i.e., what is the typical height of this plant, from water level to top? Looks like maybe about 12 inches...?
Posted by: Mary Ann, in Toronto at June 3, 2008 11:08 PM
What everyone else said! ;->
Incredible shots!
I love the daily education here!
Posted by: J (DelCo, PA) at June 4, 2008 5:19 AM
What a treat to see these lovely photographs. This species is S1 in NH so I've not had an opportunity to see it. The Flora illustrations don't do it justice and it is omitted from most field guides. Gleason and Cronquist state "stems ordinarily submersed, to 5 dm". The ferny structures are deeply pinnatifid submersed leaves. They don't really say how much is above water, but the flowers are tiny, the corolla is 4-5 mm (hence its omission from the more basic field guides). The companion Holmgren Illustrated Flora shows it to be about 6" tall.
Posted by: Deborah Lievens at June 4, 2008 5:21 AM
Thanks for the compliments on the photos! The plants extend about 6 inches / 15 cm above the water. The feathery leaves had decayed on most of the plants, it took a bit of looking to find a pretty one. The stem is underwater and is somewhat fragile -- I unintentionally broke the one in the middle photo. The site is a beaver pond and there must be at least a thousand plants there, yet the species is S2 in Delaware (6-20 known populations.)
Posted by: David Smith at June 4, 2008 6:13 AM
Whow!
Posted by: Flavia Bernard at June 4, 2008 7:07 AM
Is there a sense for why the plant is so rare? Standard things like wetlands/habitat loss or something else?
Posted by: Eric in SF at June 4, 2008 8:01 AM
Any chance of tracking one of these down for my little container water garden?
Posted by: Hartley at June 6, 2008 9:57 AM
These photographs are just great. Impressive to show the flower up close and go to each of the other pictures. I also found the fact sheet from Maine department of Conservation to be most helpful. I have relatives who live in this area. I will be going up next weekend to see what we can find. Thank you so much for all the imformation.
Thank you,
Margaret-Rae
Posted by: Margaret-Rae Davis at June 11, 2008 6:53 PM
Please share your comments about the photograph(s) and accompanying write-up. Telling a story about the subject of the photograph(s) is also much appreciated! If you have a gardening question, the best place to ask is on the UBC Botanical Garden Forums. Thank you!
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A primrose? North America? Where have I been??