Pontederia cordata

Linnaeus

Sp. Pl. 1: 208. 1753.

Common names: Pontédérie cordée langue du boeuf
Illustrated
Synonyms: Narukila cordata (Linnaeus) Nieuwland Pontederia angustifolia Pursh Pontederia cordata var. lanceolata (Nuttall) Grisebach Pontederia cordata var. lancifolia (Muhlenberg ex Elliott) L. B. Case Pontederia lanceolata (Linnaeus) Farwell Pontederia lancifolia Muhlenberg ex Elliott Unisema cordata (Linnaeus) Farwell
Treatment appears in FNA Volume 26. Treatment on page 45. Mentioned on page 46.

Plants perennial, rooted in mud. Vegetative stems contracted, rhizomatous. Flowering stems erect, to 120 cm. Sessile leaves: blade linear. Petiolate leaves emersed; stipule 7–29 cm; petiole distinctly constricted just below blade, to 60 cm; blade lanceolate to cordate, 6–22 × 0.7–12 cm. Spikes with up to several hundred flowers, 2–15 cm; spathes 5–17 cm. Perianth mauve, tube 3–9 mm, limb lobes oblanceolate, 5–8 mm, distal central lobe with 2-lobed yellow spot; proximal stamens 7–13 mm, distal 1.5–6.3 mm; style 3-lobed. Utricles with dentate ridges, 4–6 × 2–3 mm.


Phenology: Flowering Mar–Nov in Florida; flowering season shorter farther north.
Habitat: Pond and lake margins
Elevation: 0–500 m

Distribution

V26 15-distribution-map.jpg

N.B., N.S., Ont., P.E.I., Que., Ala., Ark., Conn., Del., D.C., Fla., Ga., Ill., Ind., Iowa, Kans., Ky., La., Maine, Md., Mass., Mich., Minn., Miss., Mo., Nebr., N.H., N.J., N.Y., N.C., Ohio, Okla., Pa., R.I., S.C., S.Dak., Tenn., Tex., Vt., Va., W.Va., Wis., Mexico, Central America (Belize), South America.

Discussion

Pontederia cordata has a large number of synonyms, at the levels of species, variety, and form (see R. M. Lowden 1973 for most names). Almost all these names are based on variations in leaf shape, but extensive morphological variation has been observed within single populations and even in individual plants. Study is needed to determine the cause of the extreme leaf base forms of cuneate on lanceolate blades and cordate on ovate blades. Variation has also been observed in peduncle pubescence. A velutinous peduncle and ovate leaf blade with slightly cuneate base is consistently found among some South American populations, hence recognition there of var. ovalis (Martius) Solms.

The reproductive biology of Pontederia cordata has been well studied (R. Ornduff 1966; S. D. Price and S. C. H. Barrett 1982, 1984). It is a tristylous species, and most populations contain all three morphs (S. D. Price and S. C. H. Barrett 1982). At least some degree of self-incompatibility exists, being strongest with the short-style morphs and weakest with the midstyle morphs (R. Ornduff 1966).

Selected References

None.

Lower Taxa

None.
... more about "Pontederia cordata"
Charles N. Horn +
Linnaeus +
Pontédérie cordée +  and langue du boeuf +
N.B. +, N.S. +, Ont. +, P.E.I. +, Que. +, Ala. +, Ark. +, Conn. +, Del. +, D.C. +, Fla. +, Ga. +, Ill. +, Ind. +, Iowa +, Kans. +, Ky. +, La. +, Maine +, Md. +, Mass. +, Mich. +, Minn. +, Miss. +, Mo. +, Nebr. +, N.H. +, N.J. +, N.Y. +, N.C. +, Ohio +, Okla. +, Pa. +, R.I. +, S.C. +, S.Dak. +, Tenn. +, Tex. +, Vt. +, Va. +, W.Va. +, Wis. +, Mexico +, Central America (Belize) +  and South America. +
0–500 m +
Pond and lake margins +
Flowering Mar–Nov in Florida +  and flowering season shorter farther north. +
W2 +, W1 +  and Illustrated +
Narukila cordata +, Pontederia angustifolia +, Pontederia cordata var. lanceolata +, Pontederia cordata var. lancifolia +, Pontederia lanceolata +, Pontederia lancifolia +  and Unisema cordata +
Pontederia cordata +
Pontederia +
species +