Ecological and Biological Characteristics and Cutting Propagation of Hydrocotyle nepalensis Hook

Abstract:

In order to understand the ecological and biological characteristics of Hydrocotyle nepalensis Hook., its morphological and photosynthetic features were studied. The results showed that leaf thickness was about 130.7 μm with undeveloped palisade tissue, and the ratio of spongy tissue to palisade tissue was high. The diurnal net photosynthetic rate in leaves was a single peaked curve under shading condition. Meanwhile, H. nepalensis had low light saturation point, light compensation point, chlorophyll a/b and high apparent quantum yield, total chlorophyll content, chlorophyll b, which indicated its strong adaptive capacity and uitilization ability to weak light. The cutting propagation of H. nepalensis had high survival under moist and shady conditions. Therefore, H. nepalensis is suitable to be planted in low light environment. Because of its high ornamental value, this species is an excellent ground cover plant for gardening.