Spineless hornwort (Ceratophyllum echinatum)
Description
Ceratophyllum echinatum, commonly called spineless hornwort, is an aquatic perennial plant of the genus Ceratophyllum. It can be found in ponds and lakes. It is principally an eastern North American species and the only species of its genus endemic to North America. Ceratophyllum echinatum is an aquatic herb. The spineless hornwort usually does not have any roots with stems that are freely branching (0.3 – 4.0 m long). The leaves are submerged and they are usually in whorls of 5 to 12. Its flowers do not have any petals but have sepals (3 to 15) that are sometimes mistaken for petals. The flower is tiny, could be male or female, and contains about 12 to 16 stamens. It blooms from February to July. The fruits have dry seeds with a lot of spines and a rough surface. It is often used in aquariums because its appearance, its high oxygen production, and its ability to minimize the blue-green algae growth. Ceratophyllum echinatum can be found in the United States and some parts of Canada.
Taxonomic tree
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Domain: Eukarya
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Kingdom: Plantae
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Phylum:
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Class: Magnoliopsida
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Order: Ceratophyllales
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Family: Ceratophyllaceae
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Genus: Ceratophyllum
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