Tropski rastlinjak

LATIN NAMEHottonia palustris
AUTHORL.
SLOVENIAN NAMEvodna grebenika
ENGLISH NAME
GENUSHottonia
FAMILY (LATIN)Primulaceae
FAMILY (SLOVENIAN)jegličevke
ORDER
CLASS
PHYLUM
KINGDOM
FLOWERING TIMEmay - july
PREVALENCEEvropa
RED LIST
CITES
PLANTS GROW IN LABELED (label) GARDEN WORK
map
PLANTS PICTURE
Hottonia palustris
Hottonia palustris

When common primrose or other primroses are talked about, the subject of discussion is immediately recognized by everyone, but hardly anyone knows that some of the primroses' close relatives, such as water violet (Hottonia palustris), are aquatic plants. A close look at this plant reveals that its flowers are similar to those of common primrose, just that they are borne in racemose inflorescences rising above the water surface. They range in colour from white to pinkish white. The plant grows in shallow waters with muddy bottoms, occasionally also on marshy ground. Its root system is anchored in the underlying mud, while its slender stems rise up to the water surface, where rosettes of delicate, filigree pinnate leaves form. They float on the surface like little water stars, bright and shiny green in the sun. Unless the plant wakes up in May and begins to flower, it may float limply in slow flowing water throughout the year, surrendering itself to the hardly noticeable pull of the lazy current. Like an anchor, its root holds it firmly in place while it bends in the direction of the current. In May, however, the water violet's limpness turns into its opposite. Its stem, all of a sudden firm and erect, grows over 30 centimetres high above the water surface. White to pinkish white primrose-like flowers with yellow throats begin to open from the bottom upwards. The inflorescences open slowly, but once the plant is fully in bloom, its green gives way to pinkish white.
Text: J. Bavcon
LOOK ALSO:
Primula elatior
Anagallis arvensis
Primula vulgaris
Festuca filiformis
Carex flagellifera
 

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