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Pontederia vaginalis

Burm.f. (1768)

This name is accepted

Kingdom: Viridiplantae Phylum: Magnoliophyta Class/Clade: Monocots Order: Commelinales Family: Pontederiaceae Genus: Pontederia

cordate monochoria, pickerel weed

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Description

Key Characters:

Growth Form: Aquatic perennial herbs from creeping rootstocks.

Stems: Stems usually inconspicuous, obliquely erect.

Roots: Fibrous root system.

Leaves: Leaves simple. Alternate. Blades linear to ovate, usually 5–10 cm long, 1.5–3 cm wide, cauline leaves smaller. Apex acuminate. Base rounded or cordate. Margins entire. Veins acrodromous. Sheathing and tubular. Stipules present 3.5–5.7 cm.

Flowers: Flowers few to numerous in racemes 2–4 cm long, peduncles emerging from the sheath of the uppermost leaf, 2–10 mm long, terminal. Flowers bisexual (perfect); Pedicels 3–6 mm long. Perianth in two series lobes purplish blue, oblong, 8–12 mm long. Stamens 6, 1 larger than others. Ovary superior, 3-celled; ovules numerous.

Fruit: Capsules ellipsoid; ca. 1 cm long. Seeds oblong; with 8–12 longitudinal ribs.

Ploidy: 2n = 26; 28; 52; 60; 72; 74; 80

Habitat: Naturalized in taro paddies and slow–moving streams.

Elevation Range: 0–30 m.

Historical Distribution

Images

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Uses and Culture

USES

Natural History

Statewide Status

Naturalized

Island Status

Kaua'i Naturalized
O'ahu Naturalized
Molokai Naturalized
Hawai'i Naturalized

Dispersal Agents


Pollinators

Specimens

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Bibliography

Name Published In: Fl. Indica: 80 (1768)

Other References

Wagner et al. 1990:1606 (K, O [as Monochoria vaginalis]); Wagner & Herbst 1995:23 (H); Staples & Herbst 2005:752 (DESCR); Oppenheimer 2011:9 (Mo); Pellegrini et al. 2018:61 (Syn. M. vaginalis = P. vaginalis)

Occurrences

SNo. Scientific Name Locality Habitat Basis of Record Description Recorded By Record Number Island Source Date
1 Pontederia vaginalis Waipio Valley In ditch on valley floor with other wetland weeds. Preserved_Specimen Flowers violet. Stemmermann, R.L. 7174 Oahu BISH 1987-07-19
2 Pontederia vaginalis In bed of irrigation ditch in bog above Kilauae Agronomics Occasional; Partly submerged aquatic. Preserved_Specimen Aquatic, stems pale green, leaf blade glossy, especially above. Blue flowers very conspicuous. Hume, L. 355 Kauai BISH 1988-10-21
3 Pontederia vaginalis Machuu Taro Farm, Waipio Valley, Big Island, Hawaii Grwoing throughout fallow taro loi in 2 inches of water. Preserved_Specimen Clumping herbaceous plant with heart-shaped leaves, on 5-6 inch stalks. Not flowering. Crago, L.M. 2005111 Hawaii BISH 2005-03-19
4 Pontederia vaginalis Koolau Mts., bottom of Kahaluu Valley In water in taro patch. Preserved_Specimen Flowers blue. Fosberg, F.R. 12204 Oahu BISH 1935-07-04
5 Pontederia vaginalis Hanalei Distr., Kahili ahupuaa, on margin of southern arm of Puu Ka Ele Reservoir Growing on mucky soil with Ludwigia octovalvis and Brachiaria mutica. Preserved_Specimen Low fleshy herb with shiny green leaves. Imada, C. 200164 Kauai BISH 2001-09-27
6 Pontederia vaginalis Wailau Valley In lo`I kalo and adjacent muddy areas Preserved_Specimen Herbs, flowers blue Oppenheimer, H.L. 100903 Molokai BISH 2009-10-11
7 Pontederia vaginalis Waikane In taro patch. Preserved_Specimen Suehiro, A. Oahu BISH 1934-04-01
8 Pontederia vaginalis Waikane-Schofield trail, Waikane, Koolau Range. Stream crossing road to Ditch Tender's house In stream. Preserved_Specimen Perianth blue. Cowan, R.S. 24 Oahu BISH 1946-07-29
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