Taxonomic revision of genus Potamogeton (Potamogetonaceae) in Kashmir Himalaya, India
Article Sidebar
Main Article Content
Abstract
Potamogeton L. (Potamogetonaceae) is one of the diverse genera of aquatic plants. Owing to its reduced floral morphology and high phenotypic plasticity, the genus has remained taxonomically challenging. This study presents taxonomic revision of Potamogeton in Kashmir Himalaya, based on comprehensive field collections made over the last decade (2010–2020), supplemented with investigations on earlier herbarium collections. During the present study, aquatic habitats across the Kashmir Himalaya were surveyed, and 15 study sites were selected for detailed sampling spanning an elevation gradient of 1595 to 2180 m asl. The study records 12 Potamogeton species in the region, with detailed morphological characterization, identification key, line drawings, and photographs. The three species, namely, P. amblyophyllus C.A. Meyer, P. berchtoldii Fieber, and P. trichoides Cham. & Schltdl. are the first-time reports from this region, while the latter two species are new distribution records for India as well. Overall, the study brings clarity to the taxonomy of Potamogeton - the largest aquatic genus in Kashmir Himalaya, and the findings have practical implications in the sustainable management and restoration of aquatic ecosystems in this Himalayan region, with learnings for neighboring regions.
Article Details
Section
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives 4.0 International License.
How to Cite
References
AYKURT C., FEHRER J., SARI YOL D., KAPLAN Z., BAMBASOVA V., DENIZ ˙I.G., AYDEMIR E. & N. IMIR 2020. Taxonomic treatment and phylogenetic analysis of the family Potamogetonaceae in Turkey. Taxon 69: 1172–1190. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1002/tax.12364
BRADSHAW A.D. 1965. Evolutionary significance of phenotypic plasticity in plants. Advances in Genetics 13: 115–155. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/S0065-2660(08)60048-6
CESKA A. 2001. Potamogetonaceae. In Douglas GW, Meidinger D, Pojar J (eds) Illustrated Flora of British Columbia 7. Ministry of Sustainable Resource Management & Ministry of Forests, Victoria. pp. 292–313 & 348.
CHOI K., HWANG Y., HONG J.K. & J.S. KANG 2023. Comparative Plastid Genome and Phylogenomic Analyses of Potamogeton Species. Genes 14: 1914. https://doi.org/10.3390/ genes14101914 DOI: https://doi.org/10.3390/genes14101914
CHOWDHURY A., CHOWDHURY M. & A.P. DAS 2015. Potamogeton gramineus Linnaeus (Potamogetonaceae): A New Record for Indian Sub-Continent with a Complete Morphological Description. International Journal of Current Research 7(2): 12362–12364.
CHRISTENHUSZ M.J.M. & J.W. BYNG 2016. The number of known plants species in the world and its annual increase. Phytotaxa 2016: 261. DOI: https://doi.org/10.11646/phytotaxa.261.3.1
COOK C.D.K. 1996. Aquatic and Wetland Plants of India. Oxford University Press, New Delhi. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1093/oso/9780198548218.001.0001
GANIE A. H., RESHI Z. A., WAFAI B. A. & S. PUIJALON 2014. Phenotypic plasticity: Cause of the successful spread of the genus Potamogeton in Kashmir Himalaya. Aquatic Botany 120: 283–289. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.aquabot.2014.09.007
GANIE A. H., RESHI, Z. A. & B. A. WAFAI 2016. Chromosome conspectus of Kashmir Himalayan species of the genus Potamogeton L. Tropical Ecology 61: 345–359. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s42965-020-00094-6
HAYNES R. R. & C. B. HELLQUIST 2000. Potamogetonaceae Dumortier. In: EDITORIAL COMMITTEE (eds.), Flora of North America north of Mexico. Oxford University Press, New York, pp. 47–74.
HAYNES R. R. & L. B. HOLM-NIELSEN 2003. Potamogetonaceae. In: LUTEYN, J. L. & S. R. GRADSTEIN (eds.), Flora Neotropica Monograph. New York, pp. 1–52.
HAYNES R. R., LES D. H. & M. KRAL. 1998. Two new combinations in Stuckenia, the correct name for Coleogeton (Potamogetonaceae). Novon 8: 241. DOI: https://doi.org/10.2307/3392010
HOLUB J. 1997. Stuckenia Börner 1912- The correct name for Coleogeton (Potamogetonaceae). Preslia 69: 361–366.
HOOKER J. D. 1894. Flora of British India.Volume 6. London, L. Reeve.
KAK A. M. 1979. Potamogeton in North Western Himalayas. Journal Bombay Natural Hist. Societ. 80: 312 – 319.
KAK A. M. 1990. Aquatic and wetland vegetation of the Kashmir Himalaya. Journal of Economic and Taxonomic Botany 14(1): 1–14.
KAPLAN Z. & J. STEPANEK 2003. Genetic variation within and between populations of Potamogeton pusillus agg. Plant Systematics and Evolution 239: 95–112. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00606-002-0252-7
KAPLAN Z. 2002. Phenotypic plasticity in Potamogeton (Potamogetonaceae). Folia Geobotanica 37: 141–170. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF02804229
KAPLAN Z. 2008. A taxonomic revision of Stuckenia (Potamogetonaceae) in Asia, with notes on the diversity and variation of the genus on a worldwide scale. Folia Geobotanica 43: 159–234. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s12224-008-9010-0
KAPLAN Z., FEHRER J. & C. B.HELLQUIST 2009. New hybrid combination revealed by Molecular Analysis: The unknown side of North America Pondweed diversity (Potamogeton) Systematic Botany 34(4): 625–642. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1600/036364409790139745
KAPLAN Z., JAROLÍMOVÁ V. & J. FEHRER 2013. Revision of chromosome numbers of Potamogetonaceae: A new basis for taxonomic and evolutionary implications Preslia 85: 421–482.
KAPLAN, Z. 2010. Hybridisation of Potamogeton species in the Czeck Republic: diversity, distribution, temporal trends and habitat prefrences. Preslia 82: 261–287.
KAUL V. & D. P. ZUSTHI 1967. A study of aquatic and marshland vegetation in Srinagar India. Proceedings of the National Institute of Sciences, India 33: 111–127.
KLIMES, I. & B. DICKORE 2005. A contribution to vascular plant flora of Lower Ladakh (Jammu & Kashmir, India). Willdenowia 35: 125–153. DOI: https://doi.org/10.3372/wi.35.35110
KOTHARI M. J. 2001. A Revision of Family Potamogetonaceae of India. Bulletin of the Botanical Survey of India 43(1-4): 151–194. DOI: https://doi.org/10.20324/nelumbo/v43/2001/74255
LES D. H., MURRAY N.M. & N.P. TIPPERY 2009. Systematics of two imperiled pondweeds (Potamogeton vaseyi, P. gemmiparus) and taxonomic ramifications of subsection Pusilli (Potamogetonaceae). Systematic Botany 3(4): 643–651. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1600/036364409790139727
LES, D. H. & R. R. HAYNES. 1996. Coleogeton (Potamogetonaceae), a new genus of Pondweed. Novon 6: 389–391. DOI: https://doi.org/10.2307/3392046
LINDQVIST C., DE-LAET J., HAYNES R.R., AAGESEN L., KEENER B.R. & V. A. ALBERT 2006. Molecular Phylogenetics of an aquatic plant lineage, Potamogetonaceae. Cladistics 22: 568–588. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1096-0031.2006.00124.x
NAQSHI, A. R. & G. N. JAVID 1973. Two new plant record for Kashmir – Potamogeton lucens var. accuminatus P. crispus var. serrulatus. Current Science 42(2): 78.
POWO 2025. Plants of the World online. Facilitated by the Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew. Available at: https://powo.science.kew.org/ (Accessed on 23.10.2025).
PRESTON C.D. & J. M. CROFT 1997. Aquatic plants in Britain and Ireland. Harley Books, Colchester.
SCHMID B. 1992. Phenotypic variation in plants. Evolutionary Trends in Plants 6: 45–40.
SHARMA B M. & P. KACHROO 1981. Fora of Jammu.Volume 1. Bishen Singh Mahendra Pal Singh, 23- A, Connaught Place, Dehradun, India.
STEWART R. R. 1972. An Annotated Catalogue of the vascular plants of West Pakistan and Kashmir. Fakhri Printing Press, Karachi, Pakistan.
SWAMI A. & B. K. GUPTA 1998. Flora of Udhampur. Bishen Singh Mahendra Pal Singh, 23 - A new Connaught place Dehradun, India.
THIERS B. 2025 [continuously updated]. Index Herbariorum. A global directory of public herbaria and associated staff. New york Botanical Garden’s Virtual Herbarium. Available from: http://sweetgum.nybg.org/science/ih (accessed 30 October 2025)
WIEGLEB G. 1990b. A redescription of Potamogeton wrightii (Potamogetonaceae). Plant Systematics and Evolution 170: 53–70. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00937849
WIEGLEB G. & Z. KAPLAN 1998. An account of the species of Potamogeton (Potamogetonaceae). Folia Geobotanica 33: 241–316. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF03216205
WIEGLEB G. 1988. Notes on pondweeds- outlines for a monographical treatment of the genus Potamogeton L. Feddes Repertorium 99: 249–266. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1002/j.1522-239X.1988.tb00406.x
WIEGLEB G. 1990a. A redescription of Potamogeton distinctus including remarks on the taxonomy of the Potamogeton nodosus group. Plant Systematics and Evolution 169: 245–259. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00937678
ZHANG X. L., GITURU R. N., YANG C. F. & Y. H. GUO 2010. Exposure to water increase pollen longevity of pondweed (Potamogeton ssp.) indicates different mechanisms ensuring pollination success of angiosperms in aquatic habitat. Evolutionary Ecology 24: 939–953. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10682-010-9351-z