Limosella aquatica
species of plant
Limosella aquatica is a widespread species of flowering plant in the figwort family known by the common name water mudwort. It is native to much of the temperate world, where it grows in many types of wet habitat. It is semiaquatic, growing in moist land habitat such as meadows, in mud and wet sand next to water, and partly submersed or floating in the water. It is a fleshy annual herb forming low tufts in muddy substrate. The leaf is made up of a petiole up to 30 centimetres (12 in) long but usually quite a bit shorter, tipped with a flat spoon-shaped blade up to 3 cm (1.2 in) long. The inflorescence is an erect stalk bearing one tiny white to pink- or blue-tinted flower about 2 millimetres (0.08 in) wide. The fruit is a capsule up to 5 mm (0.20 in) wide containing many tiny seeds.
Taxonomy
Limosella aquatica was given its scientific name in 1753 by Carl Linnaeus. It is part of the genus Limosella which is classified in the Scrophulariaceae family. It has two accepted varieties.
This brief starts where responsible research should: with the source description of “Limosella aquatica” as species of plant. Everything that follows is an evidence route, not borrowed authority.
Why this record matters
The subject matters to the science & nature register because the source frames it as species of plant. Its deeper value depends on whether names, dates, institutions and citations support that framing.
The date and method of observation matter as much as the stated conclusion, especially where classification or consensus has changed. The source revision retrieved here is dated Mar 17, 2026. The linked authority identifier is Q159248. The first chronological checks are 1753.
Current terminology should not be projected backward without checking the classification used when the underlying evidence was created. The lead is largely declarative, so disagreement and counter-evidence require a deliberate search beyond the opening account. Authority statements aid reconciliation but still require their own references, qualifiers and ranks to be checked.
How to read it
Check terminology, classification and the date of the cited evidence. Scientific names and technical consensus can change while older records retain historical value.
- Current terminology
- Classification context
- Finding cited technical literature
Primary datasets, specimen catalogues, standards bodies and the most recent peer-reviewed literature.
Three-step research path
- Establish the record: confirm the title “Limosella aquatica”, its source revision and the description used here.
- Expand the search: follow Limosella aquatica primary sources, Limosella aquatica archive and Limosella research across catalogues and specialist indexes.
- Test the account: compare the strongest cited source with the responsible institution’s current record and note any disagreement.
Questions for further research
- Which source most directly establishes the central claim about “Limosella aquatica”?
- Has classification or technical consensus changed since the cited source?
- Is the terminology current, historical or disputed?
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This entry incorporates text from “Limosella aquatica” on English Wikipedia. Contributors are listed in the page history. Text is available under the Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 License. Selected authority identifiers and statements are retrieved from Wikidata under CC0; their references and qualifiers remain part of the verification path.