Pontederia

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Pontederia
Pontederia cordata.JPG
Pontederia cordata
Scientific classification OOjs UI icon edit-ltr.svg
Kingdom: Plantae
Clade: Tracheophytes
Clade: Angiosperms
Clade: Monocots
Clade: Commelinids
Order: Commelinales
Family: Pontederiaceae
Genus: Pontederia
L.
Species

See text.

Pontederia is a genus of tristylous aquatic plants, members of which are commonly known as pickerel weeds. Pontederia is endemic to the Americas, distributed from Canada to Argentina, where it is found in shallow water or on mud. [1] The genus was named by Linnaeus in honour of the Italian botanist Giulio Pontedera. [2]

Contents

Pontederia plants have large waxy leaves, succulent stems and a thick pad of fibrous roots. The roots give rise to rhizomes that allow rapid colonization by vegetative reproduction. Species are perennial, and produce a large spike of flowers in the summer. There is a species of bee ( Dufourea novaeangliae ) that exclusively visits Pontederia cordata; [3] waterfowl also eat the fruit of the plant. [4]

Pontederia cordata and Pontederia crassipes (formerly known as Eichhornia crassipes), have become invasive in many tropical and temperate parts of the globe, but are, on the other hand, efficient biological filters of polluted water in constructed wetlands. [5]

Species

Pontederia cordata Pontederia cordata00.jpg
Pontederia cordata Pontederia cordata01.jpg

As of January 2024, Plants of the World Online accepted the following species: [6]

References

  1. "Pontederia cordata: pickerelweed". GoBotany.NativePlantTrust.org. 2020. Retrieved July 26, 2025.
  2. "Definition of PONTEDERIA". Merriam-Webster.com. Retrieved 2021-06-17.
  3. "Spotlight on Dufourea novaeangliae, the Pickerel Bee". NativeBeeology.com. January 11, 2016. Retrieved July 26, 2025.
  4. "Wildflowers of the Adirondacks: Pickerelweed". WildAdirondacks.org. 2017. Retrieved July 26, 2025.
  5. Kadlec, Robert H.; Scott Wallace (2008). Treatment Wetlands (2 ed.). CRC Press. p. 97. ISBN   978-1-56670-526-4.
  6. "Pontederia L.: Accepted Species". Powo.Science.Kew.org. Plants of the World Online. 2018. Retrieved 2024-01-11.