Northern Prairie Wildlife Research Center


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Aquatic and Wetland Vascular Plants of the Northern Great Plains

66. Pontederiaceae, the Pickerelweed Family

1. Heteranthera R. & P. -- Mud plantain

1. Heteranthera limosa (Sw.) Willd.

Small amphibious annual (in this region), with stems short when emersed to somewhat elongated and sprawling when in water. Leaves differentiated into petiole and blade, with the blades emersed or floating, ovate to elliptic or elliptic-lanceolate, mostly 2-10 cm long, rounded at the tip, subcordate to truncate or sometimes tapered at the base; petioles mostly 4-20 cm long, with a membranous sheath at the base. Flower and its elongate spathe borne on a stout peduncle; spathe abruptly caudate at the apex, 2-4 cm long, enclosing the tubular portion of the perianth; perianth segments white to usually purplish-blue, the upper 1-3 yellow at the base, linear-lanceolate, 5-10 mm long, the perianth tube 1-3.5 cm long; stamens dissimilar, 2 with short yellow anthers and the other with a more elongate, blue or yellow anther. Jun--Sep. Shallow water or mud of ponds and marshes, uncommon and sporadic, c and s SD and NE; (KY to MN and SD, s to MS, TX and into Mex., also AZ).
GIF- Distribution Map

Return to Family -- Pontederiaceae - The Pickerelweed Family
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Menlo Park, CA [caww55]