Environmental Engineering Reference
In-Depth Information
POTAMOGETON NATANS
LINNAEUS
Phylum: Magnoliophyta Class: Liliopsida
Order: Alismatales Family: Potamogetanaceae
Common name: Broad-leaved pond weed, loating pond weed
Distribution: Northern hemisphere, including Britain
Habitat: Lakes, ponds, ditches, quiet or slow-lowing freshwaters
Description: The stems (1-2 m) of this plant species are cylindrical without
many branches. Both loating and submerged leaves are present in the same
plant. The loating dark green leaves (5-10 cm long) are ovate to oblong,
and ovate and cordate at the base. They are leathery, opaque, and rounded
at the base and pointed at the tips. The submerged leaves are grass-like
phyllodes, which are modiied leaf stalks. The hermaphrodite lower spikes
(5-10 cm long) are dense and cylindrical.
Compounds and activities: The bioactive compounds isolated from this species
are potamogetonin, a new furanoid diterpene, and seven furanto-ent-labdane
diterpenes (Greca et al., 2001). While the synthetic potamogetotonin
analog has antimycobacterial properties, the diterpenes show antibiotic
(antialgal) activities.
POTAMOGETON NODOSUS
POIR
