Prior names
Triglochin multifructa
Triglochin procera, partly
Triglochin procerum, orth.var., partly
Triglochin multifructum, orth.var.
Triglochin procerum var. procerum, orth.var., partly
Common names
Many-fruit Water-ribbons
Water Ribbons
Etymology
Cycnogeton (formally Triglochin) from the Greek 'cycnos' meaning swan and 'geiton' meaning neighbour; referring to its closeness, taxonomically to Triglochin. Multifractum from the Latin 'multus' meaning many and 'fructus' meaning fruit; referring to its many fruits up to 1000, which mature on each spike.
Distribution and status
Found in the northern Lake Eyre Basin in South Australia, growing in fresh, still to slow-flowing water to 70 cm deep in seasonally to permanent swamps, lagoons, roadside ditches, stagnant waterholes and creeks and surviving on saturated to damp soils left above receding waters. Also found in the Northern Territory, Queensland, New South Wales and Victoria. Native. Rare in South Australia. Rare in the Northern Territory. Common in the other states.
Herbarium region: Lake Eyre
NRM region: South Australian Arid Lands
AVH map: SA distribution map (external link)
Plant description
Similar to Cycnogeton procerum but with fatter tubers to 40 mm long and 14 mm diameter. Leaves similar but usually floating, seldom erect, to 133 cm long and 17 mm wide, deep green and glossy above, paler yellowish-green below, thicken and strongly spongy toward the base. Inflorescence a long slender maroon-cyclamen spike to 110 cm long and 19 mm diameter with numerous small tightly-touching fruits. Flowering between August and May. Fruits are small globular to ellipsoid fruit to 5 mm long and 5 mm diameter, strongly ridged. Seed segments (carpels) are attached along most of their length, straight and not twisted, each with a prominent, narrow longitudinal, dorsal ridge and two lateral ridges. Seed embryo type is linear.
Seed collection and propagation
Collect seeds between October and June. Collect mature fruits that are turning yellowish-green and seed segments come apart easily, either individually or by breaking off the spike. Place the fruit in a tray and leave to dry for 1 to 2 weeks. No further cleaning is required collection consist of mainly individual seeds. If collected with other material, then rub the dried fruit with a rubber bung to dislodge the seeds. Use a sieve to separate any unwanted material. Store the seeds with a desiccant such as dried silica beads or dry rice, in an air tight container in a cool and dry place.