Pontederiaceae |
| 9 genera. Annual or perrenial. Stems rhizomatous,
stoloniferous or erect, submerged, floating or creeping.
Leaves sheathed and usually stipulate at the base,
distichous or spirodistichous (whorled and hair-like in Hydrothrix),
linear or petiolate; blades linear to orbicular, cuneate
to cordate at base. Flowers bisexual , often tristylic,
zygomorphic to almost actinomorphic, solitary, paired or
in spike, umbel-like racemes or panicles, the
inflorescence subtended by 2 spathes, one of which is
sometimes leaf-like. Perianth petaloid, tubular or lobed
almost to the base, white, blue, yellow, or blue with
yellow flecks; lobes 6 or rarely 4 or 3. Stamens 6, 3 or
1, similar or dissimilar, inserted on the perianth. Ovary
superior, 3-locular, occasionally only 1 locule fertile;
style 1, elongate; fruit a capsule or 1-seeded nut
enclosed in a hardened perianth base (anthocarp); seeds
numerous or solitary. © Christopher D.K. Cook |
