SafePlants

Blyxa aubertii

Blyxa aubertii, also known as Round Fruit Blyxa, is an aquatic plant species with a wide distribution.

Considerations for Pets

• This plant produces fruits, which, based on the provided text and other plants, might attract insects.

Considerations for Children

• The text mentions traditional uses of similar plants for children, such as wearing parts of the plant as charms. However, this specifically refers to a different plant and is provided only as broader ethnobotanical context.

Taxonomy and Nomenclature

• Scientific Name: Blyxa aubertii Rich.
• Common Names: Round Fruit Blyxa
• Family: Hydrocharitaceae
• Kingdom: Plantae
• Taxonomic Rank: Species
• Synonyms:
  • Blyxa coreana (Sci)
  • Blyxa d'Aubert (Sci)
  • Blyxa echinosperma (Sci)
  • Diplosiphon oryzetorum (Sci)
  • Blyxa aubertii Rich. var. echinosperma (Clarke) Cook &amp Luond.

Distribution and Habitat

• Blyxa aubertii is found in:
  • Africa (e.g., Tanzania)
  • Tropical and Subtropical Asia
  • Northwestern Pacific (e.g., China: Guangdong)
  • Japan
  • Taiwan
  • Bangladesh (Tanguar haor, Sunamgonj)
• It is typically found in wetland environments.

Morphological Characteristics

• The plant has rounded fruits that are mostly 6 to 12 mm across.
• Fruit color varies from cream to red and purple-black.
• The species Blyxa aubertii and Blyxa japonica are relatively small.
• The fruit is an oblong capsule with numerous elliptic seeds.
• Seeds are up to 1mm wide, flat to almost round or triangular in section view.

Ecological Role

• The plant is found in wetland plant communities, which have environmental rating scores associated with them.

Interactions with Other Organisms

• The Blyxa forms a very large root system.
• Insects, such as fruit flies and black fly larvae, may interact with this plant.

Further Information

• The Plant List
• iucnredlist.org
• tfhmagazine.com
• plants.usda.gov