Pontederia natans
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Photo: Tomas Buruwate
Nacatopi pan in L5 south in Niassa Reserve, Niassa Province, Mozambique
Photo: Tomas Buruwate
Nacatopi pan in L5 south in Niassa Reserve, Niassa Province, Mozambique
Photo: Tomas Buruwate
Nacatopi pan in L5 south in Niassa Reserve, Niassa Province, Mozambique
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| Synonyms: |
Eichhornia natans (P. Beauv.) Solms |
| Common names: | |
| Frequency: | |
| Status: | Native |
| Description: |
Aquatic herb, rooted, sometimes forming dense submerged mats. Leaves spaced along the stem, alternate, dimorphic; submerged ones 30-70 × 1.5-4 mm, linear and sessile; floating ones with lamina 8-25 × 6-22 mm, ovate to subreniform; base cordate; petiole long and weak. Flowers single, purple, white or mauve; tube cylindric; lobes obovate, subequal. Capsule narrowly fusiform. |
| Type location: |
Nigeria |
| Notes: | |
| Derivation of specific name: | natans: floating or swimming |
| Habitat: | In shallow, still or slow-moving water in rivers, lagoons and swamps. |
| Altitude range: (metres) | |
| Flowering time: | |
| Worldwide distribution: | Widespread in tropical and subtropical Africa, but absent from South Africa |
| FZ divisions: | N |
| Growth form(s): | |
| Endemic status: | |
| Red data list status: | |
| Insects associated with this species: | |
| Spot characters: | Display spot characters for this species |
| Images last updated: | Wednesday 6 September 2017 |
| Literature: |
Catarino, L. & Martins, E.S. (2010). Pontederiaceae Flora Zambesiaca 13(2) Pages 72 - 73. (Includes a picture). Mapaura, A. & Timberlake, J. (eds) (2004). A checklist of Zimbabwean vascular plants Southern African Botanical Diversity Network Report No. 33 Sabonet, Pretoria and Harare Page 112. Setshogo, M.P. (2005). Preliminary checklist of the plants of Botswana. Sabonet Report no. 37. Sabonet, Pretoria and Gaborone Page 148. Timberlake, J.R. & Childes, S.L. (2004). Biodiversity of the Four Corners Area: Technical Reviews Volume Two (Chapter 5-15) Appendix 5-1: Plant Checklist Occasional Publications in Biodiversity 15 Page 193. |
Other sources of information about Pontederia natans:
Our websites:
Flora of Caprivi: Pontederia natansFlora of Mozambique: Pontederia natans
Flora of Zambia: Pontederia natans
Flora of Zimbabwe: Pontederia natans
External websites:
African Plants: A Photo Guide (Senckenberg): Pontederia natansAfrican Plant Database: Pontederia natans
BHL (Biodiversity Heritage Library): Pontederia natans
EOL (Encyclopedia of Life): Pontederia natans
GBIF (Global Biodiversity Information Facility): Pontederia natans
Google: Web - Images - Scholar
iNaturalist: Pontederia natans
IPNI (International Plant Names Index): Pontederia natans
JSTOR Plant Science: Pontederia natans
Mansfeld World Database of Agricultural and Horticultural Crops: Pontederia natans
Plants of the World Online: Pontederia natans
Tropicos: Pontederia natans
Wikipedia: Pontederia natans