Classification
Class
Magnoliopsida Brongn.
Order
Commelinales Mirb. ex Bercht. & J.Presl
Family
Pontederiaceae Kunth
 Subordinate Taxa
 Nomenclature
Scientific Name:
Pontederia L., Sp. Pl. 288 (1753)
Synonymy:
  • = Eichhornia Kunth, Eichhornia, Gen. Nov. 3-4 (1842)
 Description

Floating or creeping aquatic perennials, stoloniferous. Leaves orbicular, or oblong-or linear-lanceolate; petioles sheathing at base. Flowers showy, solitary or in spikes or panicles, with sheathing bract. Perianth funnel-shaped; tube short; lobes slightly irregular. Stamens 6, upper 3 included, lower 3 exserted. Ovary 3-locular; stigma entire or shortly 3–6-lobed; ovules many. Capsule membranous, enclosed in the faded perianth. Seeds many.

[From: Healy and Edgar (1980) Flora of New Zealand. Volume 3. as Eichhornia Kunth]

 Biostatus
Exotic
Number of species in New Zealand within Pontederia L.
CategoryNumber
Exotic: Fully Naturalised1
Total1
 Bibliography
Kunth, C.S. 1842: Eichhornia, Genus Novum e familia Pontederiacearum. Berlin.
Linnaeus, C. 1753: Species Plantarum. Impensis Laurentii Salvii, Stockholm.
Mabberley, D.J. 2008: Mabberley's plant book, a portable dictionary of plants, their classification and uses. Edition 3. Cambridge University Press.
Pellegrini, M.O.O.; Horn, C.N.; Almeida, R.F. 2018: Total evidence phylogeny of Pontederiaceae (Commelinales) sheds light on the necessity of its recircumscription and synopsis of Pontederia L. PhytoKeys 108: 25–83. (Published online: 29 August 2018 doi:10.3897/phytokeys.108.27652)