Swaziland's Alien Plants Database

Pontederia cordata L. var. ovalis Solms-Laub PONTEDERIACEAE Pickerel weed Invasive, Potential problem species Origin: North, Central and South America (Eastern USA to the Caribbean, Honduras, Brazil and Argentina) Growth Form: Herb Plant Description: Plant: Perennial, rooted aquatic plant 1–2 m high, with erect emergent stems and horizontal rhizome, forming colonies. Leaves: Light or yellowish-green, one per stem, with long stem-clasping petioles; cordate (heart-shaped) in var. cordata, ovate or lanceolate in var. ovalis, up to 230 mm long x 70 mm wide. Flowers: Blue, in spikes 50-150 mm long; each flower about 15 mm long, upper petal with yellow blotch in centre; September–June. Fruit: None seen in South Africa; apparently sterile; spreads vegetatively from fragmented rhizomes. Key Features: Control: Comments: Suspected/Possible More information: Weeds & Invasive Plants Home Page NRCS Plants Database Photo - flowers Robert H. Mohlenbrock @ USDA-NRCS PLANTS Database / USDA NRCS. 1995. Northeast wetland flora: Field office guide to plant species. Northeast National Technical Center, Chester, PA. Illustration USDA-NRCS PLANTS Database / Britton, N.L., and A. Brown. 1913. Illustrated flora of the northern states and Canada. Photo - plant Jim Stasz @ USDA-NRCS PLANTS Database Photo - flowers/leaves William S. Justice @ USDA-NRCS PLANTS Database

KEY   Confirmed (herbarium specimen)   Visual record   Suspected Click on map grid square to view record information for each grid square.

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