Callitriche is a genus of largely aquatic plants known as water-starwort. Previously, it was the only genus in the family Callitrichaceae. However, according to the APG II system this family is now included in the Plantaginaceae (plantain family). The family name Callitrichaceae retains its status as nomen conservandum (name to be retained).

Callitriche
Water-starwort (Callitriche palustris) from Thomé
Flora von Deutschland, Österreich und der Schweiz 1885
Scientific classification Edit this classification
Kingdom: Plantae
Clade: Tracheophytes
Clade: Angiosperms
Clade: Eudicots
Clade: Asterids
Order: Lamiales
Family: Plantaginaceae
Tribe: Callitricheae
Genus: Callitriche
L. (1753)
Species[1]

75; see text

Synonyms[1]
  • Stellaria Ség. (1754), nom. illeg.
  • Stellina Bubani (1897), nom. superfl.

Species

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75 species are accepted.[1]

Phylogeny and evolution

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The first molecular phylogeny of the aquatic genus of 50 species discerned three clades: Clade A (three species, widespread); Clade C (10 species, New World); Clade D (six species, Europe).[3] The parsimony analyses revealed that aneuploid reduction (n=5 to 4) and polyploidy (n=5 to 10) have evolved at least twice in the genus, whereas the obligately submersed growth habit and hypohydrophily have evolved once.[3]

References

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  • "Callitrichaceae". Integrated Taxonomic Information System.
  • https://web.archive.org/web/20020806205418/http://www.usa.sp2000.org/AnnualChecklist2000.html
Notes

Further reading

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  • Callitriche platycarpa Recorded from Eglinton Canal, Galway, Ireland. Pybus, C. and O'Halloran, P. 2009. Distribution of some submerged aquatic macrophytes in the Eglinton Canal, Galway. Ir. Nat. J. 30: 51 - 53.
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