Starfruit  (Damasonium alisma)

Learn about the scientific name of this species and how it fits into the tree of life at Nature Navigator.

Biology

In the wild starfruit is usually an annual plant but under cultivation it has been known to live for up to three years. The seeds germinate below the water in early winter and the young plants resemble a tuft of grass. It flowers between June and August and the number of flowers produced is related to the time the mud remains moist. If the mud dries quickly, only a single flower may be produced before the plant dies.

The plant is variable in appearance depending on water levels. If conditions suit, starfruit can grow to become a large plant with up to 150 flowers. These are capable of self-pollination but it is thought likely that cross-fertilisation occurs as the flowers are popular with beetles and hoverflies.

The seed capsules look like six-pointed stars. The seeds can germinate quickly but most remain in the mud at the bottom of the pond. It is the seeds' ability to remain dormant for extended periods, suddenly germinating when the right conditions are present, that allow the plant to dramatically re-appear when the pond has been disturbed.

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