Hygrophila difformis

Hygrophila difformis
Scientific classification
Kingdom:	Plantae
Clade:	Tracheophytes
Clade:	Angiosperms
Clade:	Eudicots
Clade:	Asterids
Order:	Lamiales
Family:	Acanthaceae
Genus:	Hygrophila
Species:	H. difformis
Binomial name
	Hygrophila difformis; Blume
Synonyms
	Ruellia difformis; Synnema triflorum;

Hygrophila difformis, commonly known as water wisteria (though it is not closely related to true wisteria), is an aquatic plant in the acanthus family. It is found in marshy habitats on the Indian subcontinent in Bangladesh, Bhutan, India and Nepal. It grows to a height of 20 to 50 cm with a width of 15 to 25 cm.^[1]

Cultivation

Water wisteria is easy to grow and as such it is a very popular plant for the tropical aquarium. It grows best in good light with a nutrient rich water and substrate and it benefits from additional CO₂. It can be easily propagated from cuttings.^{[citation needed]}

Heterophylly

Hygrophila difformis shows heterophyly which is the occurrence of different leaf morphology in the same plant.

Water wisteria or Hygrophila difformis shows heterophylly, which is the occurrence of different leaf morphology in the same plant. This is emersed growth.

Water wisteria or Hygrophila difformis shows heterophylly, which is the occurrence of different leaf morphology in the same plant. This is submerged growth.

References

^ Pal, Dilipkumar; Samanta, Krishanu (2011). "CNS Activities of Ethanol Extract of Aerial Parts of Hygrophila difformis in Mice" (PDF). Drug Research. 68 (1). Acta Poloniae Pharmaceutica: 75–81. PMID 21485704.

[1] Pal, Dilipkumar; Samanta, Krishanu (2011). "CNS Activities of Ethanol Extract of Aerial Parts of Hygrophila difformis in Mice" (PDF). Drug Research. 68 (1). Acta Poloniae Pharmaceutica: 75–81. PMID 21485704.

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