PICKEREL-WEED FAMILY 
(Pontederiacece) 
(A) 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 dowering from June to Aug. 
The dowers 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; they are a light violet blue, 
with two yellow spots at the base of the upper united 
parts. A single heart-shaped, cordate leaf clasps the 
stem about midway, while others on long petioles grow 
from the rootstalk. Commonly found from N. S. to 
Manitoba and southwards. 
(B) Mud Plantain {Peter anther a reniformis) has a 
slender, few-dowered spike proceeding from a small 
sheatli-like spathe. The perianth is blue and regularly 
6-parted. The leaves are round-lobed, kidney-shaped, 
doating on long stalks from the root. Found from Ct. 
to Neb. and southwards. 
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