Heteranthera

• Authority

  Gleason, Henry A. & Cronquist, Arthur J. 1991. Manual of vascular plants of northeastern United States and adjacent Canada. lxxv + 910 pp.

• Family

  Pontederiaceae

• Scientific Name

  Heteranthera

• Description

  Genus Description - Fls 1–several in a sessile or peduncled infl subtended by a sheathing bladeless spathe, below which is another blade-bearing lf; fls regular or with the perianth-segments unequally disposed; perianth-tube very slender, with 6 spreading, linear to lanceolate segments, the 3 outer narrower than the 3 inner; stamens 3, dimorphic, the 2 posterior (lower) ones short, with usually ovate anthers, the anterior (upper) one larger, with longer filament and oblong to sagittate anther; anthers not coiling after dehiscence; ovary incompletely 3-locular, the 3 parietal placentas intruded, with many ovules; nectaries wanting; fr capsular; plants submersed to partly emersed, or creeping in mud; lvs and stems dimorphic, the erect fertile stems differentiated from the very short to elongate, branched and creeping sterile ones; some lvs bladeless, narrow, sessile and often forming a rosette, others petiolate, with expanded, floating or emersed blade; fls small, white to blue or violet. 11, warm Amer. and Afr.

• Common Names

  mud-plantain