Fabaceae / Papilionaceae

295
Hydrocharitaceae
Hydrilla verticillata (L.f.) Royle
English Name: Hydrilla.
Local name: Urdu- Jhangi, Kureli, Jhanjh.
Description:
A branched fresh water green herb with 5-50 mm long internodes, each node with
whorled leaves, male and female flowers separate but on same plant (monoecious)
or some time at separate plant (dioecious).
Flowering Period:
October to January.
Habitat:
Submerged hydrophytic. Gregarious in ditches, pools, lakes,
ponds, rice fields, and slow running water streams.
Uses:
The plant provides food to herbivorous fresh - water fish
species and may be used as manure wherever it
occurs in large quantities. The plant is suitable for indoor
and outdoor aquaria and is considered to be a good
oxygenator. It is also used in the process of sugar refining.
A dense mass of the plant some time alter water quality
by increasing temperature decrease oxygen in the water
or may be change pH and also provide breeding ground
for mosquitoes.
Distribution:
South East Europe,Africa,Asia andAustralia.