Pistia
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| Standard Cyclopedia of Horticulture |
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Pistia (probably from Greek, pistos, watery; referring to its aquatic nature). Araceae. Water-lettuce. Tropical Duckweed. A small tender, perennial floating herb desirable for aquaria. Flowers unisexual; spadix without appendage, adnate to the back of the spathe; male fls. in whorls, with 2 very short stamens which are much grown together and inserted at the apex of the spadix; female fls. solitary; ovary 1-celled; ovules numerous, orthot- ropous, in 4-6 series: fr. baccate, irregularly breaking open, normally with many seeds. Botanically, the genus Pistia is unique. The monographer of the aroids (Engler, in DC. Monogr. Phaner. 2, 1879) makes Pistia the sole representative of a subfamily, one of his 10 primary natural divisions of the arum family. He regards the pistias as all one species, though 9 or more have been described. He recognizes 4 well-marked varieties, based upon the shape of the lvs., which he calls cuneata, spathulata, obcordata and linguiformis. After the continental fashion Engler takes no one of these as a type to which the others are referred. It is probable that the form with obcordate lvs. is the one chiefly cult, in American water-gardens. It forms a loose rosette of lvs. and has long slender feathery roots. The plant sends out runners on which may sometimes be seen young plants in all stages of development. A healthy plant measures about 6 in. across. The lvs. are generally more or less wedge-shaped, 2-5 in. long, pea-green, velvety to the touch, and covered beneath with a sort of mealy down. The pistia rosette has been compared to a half-grown lettuce plant before the head has formed. Like many other aquatics, the water-lettuce has an immense range. It is found in fresh waters throughout the tropics, and in the U. S. is native from Fla. to Texas. Water-lettuce is commonly grown outdoors in summer in collections of tender aquatics, and also in aquaria. The summer temperature of the water should be 70° to 80° F. Although it grows well when floating free in several feet of water, it seems to do better when placed in shallow water where the roots may reach the soil. Larger-sized plants may be secured-by using a thin layer of rich soil or well-rotted manure in the bottom of the vessel. Soft water is said to be essential. Running water is not necessary. The plants should be shaded during the middle of the day in summer, or the foliage is likely to become yellow and sickly-looking.
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References
- Standard Cyclopedia of Horticulture, by L. H. Bailey, MacMillan Co., 1963
