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Issue: Vol. 781 No. 3: 22 Oct. 2026
Type: Article
Published: 2026-10-22
DOI: 10.11646/phytotaxa.781.3.3
Page range: 239-250
Abstract views: 15
PDF downloaded: 0

Resolving Herbarium Misidentifications and Confirming the Occurrence of Blyxa echinosperma (Hydrocharitaceae) in Sri Lanka: With Implications for Global Distribution Records

Department of Horticulture & Landscape Gardening; Faculty of Agriculture & Plantation Management; Wayamba University of Sri Lanka; Sri Lanka
Department of Horticulture & Landscape Gardening; Faculty of Agriculture & Plantation Management; Wayamba University of Sri Lanka; Sri Lanka
Department of Botany; University of Peradeniya; Peradeniya; Sri Lanka
Monocots Biodiversity conservation New record Seed morphology Sri Lankan flora Taxonomy

Abstract

Blyxa echinosperma (C. B. Clarke) Hook. f. is reported here as a confirmed record for Sri Lanka, thereby increasing the number of species of Blyxa in the country to three. The present study resolves previous misidentifications based on herbarium material, including specimens cited in global databases. Nine natural populations were documented, occurring predominantly in the wet zone with limited distribution in the intermediate zone. The species is readily distinguished by its filiform seed appendages, a key diagnostic character separating it from congeners in Sri Lanka. Based on the IUCN Red List Categories and Criteria, it is assessed as Endangered (EN) under criteria B1b(i–v) + B2b(i–v), highlighting its restricted distribution and ongoing habitat pressures.

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How to Cite

Ranasinghe, H., Yakandawala, K. & Yakandawala, D. (2026) Resolving Herbarium Misidentifications and Confirming the Occurrence of Blyxa echinosperma (Hydrocharitaceae) in Sri Lanka: With Implications for Global Distribution Records. Phytotaxa 781 (3): 239–250. https://doi.org/10.11646/phytotaxa.781.3.3