Didiplis

Scientific name

Didiplis Raf.

Common names

waterpurslane, blood stargrass, waterhedge

Family

Lythraceae

Similar genera

Ammannia, Lythrum, Nesaea, Rotala

Native distribution

eastern North America

Species cultivated

Didiplis diandra (Nutt. ex DC.) Alph. Wood

Adventive distribution

none

Weed status

not weedy

Habit

emergentemergent:
(adj) (syn. emersed) with parts raised out of the water; extending up out of the water
stem plantstem plant:
(n) (a term used in the aquarium and pond plant trade) having an elongate stem (as opposed to a compact stem)

Brief description

Annual or short-lived perennialperennial:
(adj) (of a plant) having a life cycle of more than two years
. Stems ascending or creeping, slender, with adventiveadventive:
(adj) introduced, non-native, or added; introduced and naturalized
roots produced from lower nodes. Leaves oppositeopposite:
(adj) (of leaves) two leaves per node; in pairs on opposite sides of an axis
, decussatedecussate:
(adj) arranged along stem in pairs, with each pair at right angles to the pairs above and below
, sessilesessile:
(adj) attached directly, without a stalk
, linear (submersedsubmersed:
see submerged
) to ellipticelliptical:
(adj) in the form of an ellipse (oval)
(emersedemersed:
see emergent
), entireentire:
(adj) having a continuous margin that is not toothed or lobed
, mid-vein prominent. Flowers small, axillaryaxillary:
(adj) in, of, or produced from an axil
, solitary, sessilesessile:
(adj) attached directly, without a stalk
, actinomorphicactinomorphic:
(adj) of flowers, having radial symmetry; capable of being bisected into identifical halves along more than one axis
; sepals fused, lobes 4; petals absent. Dispersal by seed and stem fragments.

Natural habitat

variety of habitats from lakes and ponds to rivers and marshes

Additional comments

Didiplis diandra is the only species in the genus Didiplis and is widely cultivated in the aquarium trade. This species is sometimes difficult to cultivate submersedsubmersed:
see submerged
due to high light requirements.