Botanica Lithuanica 2011, 17(4): 185–187

Botanica Lithuanica 2011, 17(4): 185–187
Short notes
Trumpi pranešimai
UNUSUAL VEGETATIVE PROPAGATION OF Water lobelia (LOBELIA DORTMANNA)
IN LAKE SALINIS (LITHUANIA)
Jurgita Makavičiūtė, Zofija Sinkevičienė
Nature Research Centre, Institute of Botany, Žaliųjų Ežerų Str. 49, LT-08406 Vilnius, Lithuania;
e-mail: jurgita.makaviciute@botanika.lt
Abstract
Makavičiūtė J., Sinkevičienė Z., 2011: Unusual vegetative propagation of water lobelia (Lobelia
dortmanna) in Lake Salinis (Lithuania). [Neįprastas ežerinės lobelijos (Lobelia dortmanna)
vegetatyvinio dauginimosi atvejis Salinio ežere Lietuvoje]. – Both. Lith., 17(4): 185–187.
Unusual vegetatively propagating individual of Lobelia dortmanna L. was found in summer 2009
during the studies of the plant population in Lake Salinis (Lithuania). The young vegetative plant
consisting of two leaves and abundant roots was located on old inflorescence stem at a distance of
2.5 cm above the base. No other reports about the same or similar mode of vegetative propagation
are known for this species.
Keywords: vegetative propagation, submerged plants, isoetid, Lobelia dortmanna, Lake Salinis.
Propagation predominantly by generative mode is
an exception among aquatic plants. Though generative
propagation is more important than vegetative propagation
for survival and renewal of Lobelia dortmanna
L. – perennial, rosette-forming isoetid species (Farmer,
1989; Szmeja, 1994). Water lobelia has no special organ
for vegetative propagation. New plants are formed from
axillary buds at the base of the old flowering shoots
(Möller, 1978; Farmer, 1989). This type of vegetative
propagation is assumed to occur only after the
first flowering (Aberg, 1943; Farmer & Spence, 1987).
Pseudovivipary (the replacement of generative reproducing
organs by vegetative propagules) as other mode
of vegetative propagation in L. dortmanna has been noticed
in Norway (Smolders et al., 1995).
Lobelia dortmanna, one of rare red-listed plant species
in Lithuania, has recently been recorded only in
four lakes (Sinkevičienė, 2007). Generative plants with
flowers and mature seed capsules are common in Lithuanian
populations of L. dortmanna (Makavičiūtė &
Sinkevičienė, 2010), however, vegetative propagation
has not been observed until now.
Vegetatively propagating L. dortmanna was accidentally
found for the first time on 27 July 2009 in Lake
Salinis (Švenčionys distr., 55° 13′ 8″ N, 25° 57′ 49″ E)
during the plant population studies. The mother plant
was found at a depth of 0.8 m rooted in organic silt.
Rosette of generative individual was cut by sampling
frame. Young vegetative plant situated on inflorescence
stem at a distance of 2.5 cm above the base was clearly
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Fig. 1. Vegetatively propagating specimen of Lobelia dortmanna from Lake Salinis (Lithuania).
visible (Fig. 1). The upper part of stem was withered
away. New plant consisted of two leaves 5.2 and 5.5
cm in length and quite abundant roots. The length of
mother individual leaves varied from 3.5 to 5.9 cm, the
average length (mean ± SD) was 4.72 ± 0.72 cm.
Special search of vegetatively propagating individuals
has not been performed and no other individuals
found. As far as we know, the same or similar mode of
vegetative propagation of L. dortmanna has not been
described. Supposedly, the vegetative propagation of L.
dortmanna could be induced by environmental conditions.
Very shallow (average depth < 3 m) and small
(area 5.43 ha) Lake Salinis is surrounded by arable fields
and pastures of the neighbouring village. Recently the
lake has been intensively used for recreation. Sharply
deepening slope of the lake along a coast is occupied
by helophytes (e.g. Acorus calamus L., Carex rostrata
Stokes, Lysimachia thyrsiflora L.) that create a shading
for Lobelia dortmanna and likely reduce possibilities
for flowering. Although sand dominates at the bottom
of the lake, lobelia’s distribution area is covered with a
layer of sludge up to 30 cm in the shallowest part. The
inundation in the sediments could be the main reason
for the formation of young plant below the base of the
flowering shoot, below or at the level of sediments surface.
In general, any processes related with the natural
and anthropogenic eutrophication in the lake probably
could stimulate vegetative propagation of lobelia. Currently,
it is unclear whether such or any other mode of
vegetative propagation is very rare or whether under
unfavourable for flowering conditions is more frequent
in L. dortmanna populations. However, such studies are
omitted in Lithuania as well as in other countries.
REFERENCES
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Farmer A. M., Spence D. H. N., 1987: Flowering, germination
and zonation of the submerged aquatic
plant Lobelia dortmanna L. – Journal of Ecology,
75: 1065–1076.
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Farmer A. M., 1989: Biological flora of the British
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Makavičiūtė J., Sinkevičienė Z., 2010: Initial data on
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of isoetid species. – Aquatic Botany, 48: 203–224.
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