| Trithuria bibracteata | |
|---|---|
Scientific classification  | |
| Kingdom: | Plantae |
| Clade: | Tracheophytes |
| Clade: | Angiosperms |
| Order: | Nymphaeales |
| Family: | Hydatellaceae |
| Genus: | Trithuria |
| Section: | Trithuria sect. Trithuria |
| Species: | T. bibracteata |
| Binomial name | |
| Trithuria bibracteata | |
 | |
| Trithuria bibracteata is endemic to Western Australia [1] | |
Trithuria bibracteata is a species of aquatic plant in the family Hydatellaceae endemic to Western Australia. [1]
Trithuria bibracteata is a small, annual, aquatic herb [2] with simple, linear, 5-20 mm long, and 0.4 mm wide leaves. [3] The red plants are 1 cm wide, [4] and max. 2 cm high. [3] The short stem bears max. 2 mm long hairs. [4]
It is monoecious, [3] and the reproductive units ("flowers") are bisexual. [5] The reproductive units are sessile, [4] or pedunculate. [6] The reproductive unit consists of two lanceolate, 2-3 mm long, and 1.2 mm wide involucral bracts, 1-2 stamens, and 6-10 carpels. [4] The dehiscent fruit [3] bears 0.4-0.6 mm long, [4] desiccation-tolerant, [7] black to brown, [8] ellipsoid to ovoid seeds, [3] which require light to germinate. [9] [10] Flowering occurs from September to November. [2] [3]
It occurs in the Southwest region of the state Western Australia. [2] [3]
It was described in 1983 as Trithuria bibracteata Stapf ex D.A.Cooke by David Alan Cooke based on previous work by Otto Stapf. [1] [4] The type specimen was collected by R. D. Royce in Boyanup, Western Australia in 1947. [4] It is placed in Trithuria sect. Trithuria. [11]
The specific epithet bibracteata is derived from the prefix bi- meaning two, [12] [13] and -bracteata meaning "with bracts". [14] [15] The reproductive units have two bracts. [4]
It is not threatened. [2]
It occurs in clay and mud along stream edges, [2] ephemeral pools, [16] and swamps. [8] [9] It inhabits winter-wet habitats, [2] [9] which dry in the Australian summer from December to February. [9] It can occur sympatrically with Trithuria occidentalis . [17]
The desiccation-tolerant seeds [7] may be dispersed by water birds. [10]