Abstract
Populations of Pistia stratiotes L., a pleustonic macrophyte, have been surveyed in two ponds of different hydrochemical nature. Based on the rosette form, two biotypes were distinguished. They are provisionally designated as ‘Compact’ and ‘loose’ varieties. They occur as sympatric populations in the ponds. A comparison of the diameter of the rosette, root length, 5th leaf length & breadth and length & number of inflorescences, followed by tests of significance, confirm their distinctiveness. In vegetative propagation, they propagate true. The comparison of the biotypes is extended to biomass, productivity allocation, pH of the cell saps, chlorophyll, nucleic acids, total free amino acid (TNPS) content of the leaves and total nitrogen, crude protein and phosphorous in whole plants.
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Rao, P.N., Reddy, A.S. Studies on the population biology of water lettuce: Pistia stratiotes L.. Hydrobiologia 119, 15–19 (1984). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00016860
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00016860