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