Endangered aquatic plant blooms in Du'an

A large area of Ottelia acuminates bloom on Chengjiang River at Du'an Yao autonomous county in Hechi, Guangxi. [Photo by Gao Dongfeng / Xinhua]

A large area of Ottelia acuminates recently bloomed on the water surface of the Chengjiang River at Du'an Yao autonomous county in Hechi, Guangxi.

The Ottelia acuminate is an endangered aquatic plant only surviving in China. It can be found in lakes, ponds, ditches and deep-water paddy fields below altitudes 2,700 meters in areas of Yunnan, Guizhou, Guangxi and Hainan. Its flowering season is usually from May to October; however its flowers can bloom all year round in warmer areas.

As a national third-level key protected plant, Ottelia acuminate is sensitive to water quality. It will stop growing once the water is polluted. Therefore, Ottelia acuminate can test the water quality of a stretch of water.

Tourists are attracted by the fully-bloomed Ottelia acuminates at Du'an Yao autonomous county in Hechi, Guangxi, on March 20. [Photo by Gao Dongfeng / Xinhua]

A close-up shot of Ottelia acuminates on the water of Chengjiang River at Du'an Yao autonomous county in Hechi, Guangxi. [Photo by Gao Dongfeng / Xinhua]

Edited by Owen Fishwick