ECOLOGY AND DISTRIBUTION OF HYDROCOTYLE CRYPTOCARPA SPEG. IN SOUTH AMERICA

Abstract

Hydrocotyle cryptocarpa has recently been discovered from different localities in Chile. Our current knowledge about its total distribution, life cycle and ecology are summarized. H. cryptocarpa is monanthous, monospermous and geocarpous. With these characters, it has an isolated position within the genus Hydrocotyle. The species is annual and occurs in seasonal wetlands. Special adaptations to this habitat are the life cycle as a tenagophyte (germination under water, flowering and fruiting after desiccation of the pool) and as an amphibious fluctuation responder (long-stalked leaves in the aquatic ecophase, short-stalked leaves in the terrestrial ecophase). The distribution is highly disjunct, with populations recorded from central Chile (Region of Coquimbo to de La Araucanía), Uruguay and eastern Argentina.