Pontederia

plant genus

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Last updated

July 1, 2026

Quick Summary

The genus Pontederia, commonly known as pickerelweed, belongs to the family Pontederiaceae and is primarily native to tropical America. These aquatic plants are typically perennials with creeping rootstocks and fibrous roots. Their leaves are clustered at the base or grow on branched stems.1

The genus Pontederia itself includes about five species of perennial plants. These species are characterized by spikes of bluish-purple flowers atop a one-leaved stem, with clusters of lance- or heart-shaped leaves at the base. A well-known example is Pontederia cordata, often found in shallow lakes and muddy shores of eastern North America, and sometimes cultivated in garden pools or aquariums. Other genera in the same family include water hyacinth and mud plantain.1

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pickerelweed
…aquatic plants comprising the family Pontederiaceae, especially those of the genus Pontederia. Most species are perennials, native primarily to tropical America. They have creeping rootstocks, fibrous roots, and leaves in clusters at the base of the plant or borne on branched stems. The fruit is a capsule containing many seeds,…
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…aquatic plants comprising the family Pontederiaceae, especially those of the genus Pontederia. Most species are perennials, native primarily to tropical America. They have creeping rootstocks, fibrous roots, and leaves in clusters at the base of the plant or borne on branched stems. The fruit is a capsule containing many seeds,…
Read More