SYMMETRY AND DEVELOPMENT OF LIMNOBIUM SPONGIA (HYDROCHARITACEAE)

Limnobium spongia produces upright vegetative axes and prostrate stolons. The upright axes bear new stolons, whereas the stolons bear new upright axes and fertile and sterile branching systems. Upright axes and fertile and sterile branching systems are all interpreted to have sympodial growth. However, it was not determined whether growth of stolons is monopodial or sympodial. Both stolons and upright axes branch in alternate plastochrons, and branching is achieved solely by the bifurcation of apical meristems. Each meristematic bifurcation is interpreted to represent the formation of a precocious lateral bud. The upright axes develop from presumed precocious lateral buds on stolons, whereas such buds on upright axes produce renewal shoots. Limnobium spongia exhibits a marked degree of mirror-image symmetry.