This species with a sub-Atlantic distribution is known with certainty only from Piedmont, Veneto, Tuscany, Sardinia and Puglia (since a long time not found in Liguria, Emilia-Romagna and Friuli Venezia Giulia). It grows on the muddy banks of ponds and marshes, on acidic soils, from sea level to about 1000 m. The species is sporadic in the temporary ponds of Sardinia. The National Regional Red List mentions it as an endangered species (Conti et al., 1997). The genus name derives from the Greek 'helos' (marsh) and 'charis' (ornament); the species name, which in Latin means 'with many stems', refers to the fact that the plant tends to form small, dense clumps. Flowering time: June to October. |
