Tonina fluviatilis

Tonina fluviatilis is a plant species in the Eriocaulaceae. It is the sole species in the monotypic genus Tonina, native to southern Mexico, Central America, northern South America (Colombia, Venezuela, Ecuador, Peru, northern Brazil, and the Guianas), Cuba and Trinidad.[1][2][3][4]

Tonina fluviatilis
Scientific classification
Kingdom: Plantae
Clade: Tracheophytes
Clade: Angiosperms
Clade: Monocots
Clade: Commelinids
Order: Poales
Family: Eriocaulaceae
Genus: Tonina
Aubl.
Species:
T. fluviatilis
Binomial name
Tonina fluviatilis
Aubl.
Synonyms[1]
  • Hyphydra Schreb.
  • Eriocaulon amplexicaule Rottb
  • Hyphydra amplexicaulis (Rottb.) Vahl
  • Eriocaulon sphagnoides Poepp. ex Körn.
  • Tonina fluviatilis f. obtusifolia Moldenke
  • Tonina fluviatilis f. parvifolia Moldenke

One use of the plant is for medicinal purposes. The plant is ground up and mixed with a bark to make a liquid in which to bathe nursing infants. It is thought to give the infant strength.[5]

It is also used as an aquarium plant.[6] The shape of its leaf is pleasing and its color makes a good contrast with other plants when it is planted in small groups. However, it is difficult to grow as an aquarium plant.[7]

References
  1. Kew World Checklist of Selected Plant Families.
  2. Govaerts, R. (2004). World Checklist of Monocotyledons Database in ACCESS: 1-54382. The Board of Trustees of the Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew.
  3. Hokche, O., Berry, P.E. & Huber, O. (eds.) (2008). Nuevo Catálogo de la Flora Vascular de Venezuela: 1-859. Fundación Instituto Botánico de Venezuela.
  4. Acevedo-Rodríguez, P. & Strong, M.T. (2012). Catalogue of seed plants of the West Indies. Smithsonian Contributions to Botany 98: 1-1192.
  5. "Medicinal Plants of the Guianas" (PDF). Retrieved 2007-08-03.
  6. "Albany Aquarium Plant list". Albany Aquarium. Archived from the original on 2007-06-29. Retrieved 2007-08-03.
  7. "Tonina fluviatilis". Retrieved 2007-08-03.


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