Waterpoppy

Hydrocleys nymphoides is cultivated, either in aquaria or in pools and ponds (D. S. Correll and M. C. Johnston 1970; R. K. Godfrey and J. W. Wooten 1979). The species apparently persists following cultivation or dumping of aquaria.

Herbs, to 50 cm; stolons to 45 cm. Leaves: petioles 1.5--40 cm × 0.9--9 mm, sheathing base to 8.5 cm; blade broadly ovate to orbiculate, 1.4--11.9 × 0.9--10.6 cm, veins 5--9. Inflorescences with 1--6 flowers, proliferating with stolons, leaves; peduncles to 30 cm × 1.5--6 mm; bracts elliptic, 2--4.5 × 0.4--1 cm, apex obtuse; pedicels spreading, 3.5--17.5 cm × 1.5--6 mm. Flowers ca. 6.5 cm wide; sepals 13--28 × 7--13 mm; petals spreading, pale yellow to white with yellow base, 2.3--2.6 × 3.8--4.1 cm; stamens 20--25; staminodes 20+; pistils 5--8, 10 mm. Fruits 10--14.5 × 2--3.5 mm; beak 3.5--5.5 mm. Seeds ca. 1 mm, sparsely glandular-pubescent, glandular trichomes 0.15 mm, 150--200 m m apart, not present on every epidermal cell of seed coat.

introduced; Fla., Tex.; Central America; South America.

Flowering summer.

Margins of lakes and wet ditches; 0--100m.

Stratiotes nymphoides Willdenow, Sp. Pl. 4(2): 821. 1806

Hydrocleys nymphoides, the waterpoppy or water-poppy, is an aquatic plant species in the Alismataceae. It is widespread across South America, Central America, Puerto Rico, Trinidad and the Netherlands Antilles. It is cultivated in many places for used in decorative ponds and artificial aquatic habitats, and naturalized in Australia, New Zealand, South Africa, Fiji, New Caledonia, French Polynesia, Florida, Louisiana and Texas.