Wild Flowers East of the Rockies 33 



PICKEREL-WEED FAMILY (Pontederiaceae.) 



A small family of aquatic plants consisting, in 

 our range, of only four species grouped under two 

 genera. 



PICKEREL-WEED (Pontederia cordata) is an ex- 

 ceedingly abundant water plant, growing profusely 

 in shallow ponds or along the edges of fresh water 

 streams, and flowering from June to Aug. Its name 

 is derived from the habits of pickerel in concealing 

 themselves beneath its leaves. 



The flowers grow on a spike that proceeds from 

 a small, green, leaf -like spathe; the 3 upper divisions 

 of the 6-parted perianth are partially united, but the 

 3 lower ones are spreading; in color they are a light 

 violet blue, with two yellow spots at the base of the 

 upper united parts. Each flower lasts but a single 

 day, but new ones continually appear on the length- 

 ening stalk so that continual bloom exists through- 

 out the summer. A single heart-shaped, cordate 

 leaf clasps the stem about midway, while others on 

 long petioles grow from the rootstalk. They are 

 blunt tipped, deep glossy green, and stand above the 

 surface of the water. Commonly found from N. S. 

 to Manitoba and southwards. 



MUD PLANTAIN (Heteranthera reniformis) has 



a slender, few-flowered spike proceeding from a 

 small sheath-like spathe. The perianth is blue and 

 regularly 6-parted. The three stamens are unequal, 

 two being tipped with yellow anthers and the third 

 with a greenish one. The leaves are round-lobed, 

 kidney-shaped, floating on long stalks from the root. 

 Found from Ct. to Neb. and southwards. 



H. dubia has a single yellow flower with equal 

 stamens and grass-like leaves. It is found through- 

 out the United States and southern Canada. 



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