Podostemum

The genus Podostemum belongs to the Podostemaceae family, commonly known as riverweeds. These are aquatic flowering plants that often resemble mosses, algae, or lichens and are found attached to rocks in fast-flowing rivers and waterfalls, primarily in tropical and subtropical regions.1

Many Podostemum species lack traditional stems and leaves, with photosynthesis occurring in a modified, ribbon-like plant body called a thallus. Some species develop secondary shoots that bear leaves. Their flowers emerge above water only when water levels drop, and their seeds are often sticky, aiding in dispersal by birds. The genus Podostemum itself includes about 17 species found worldwide in tropical and subtropical areas.1