English: Water star-grass; Grassleaf mud plantain.
Family:
PontederiaceaeRegion: North America, central and eastern United States, Canada; of Central and South America.
Habitat: aquatic environments, slow-moving rivers, streams, lakes, ponds, wetlands; both still and flowing freshwater, rooting in sandy or muddy substrates; prefers full sunlight, tolerate partial shade.
Ecological: provides habitat and shelter for aquatic invertebrates and small fish; stabilizes sediments and improve water quality by absorbing nutrients.
Uses: ornamental, in water gardens and ponds; in wetland restoration and habitat creation.
BotanyHerb; perennial; aquatic; submerged, but can sometimes floating.
Root: fibrous root system.
Leaves: linear; grass-like; up to 10-15 cm long, ± 2-3 mm wide;submerged, occasionally floating; alternating; flexible.
Inflorescence: solitary.
Flowers: small, solitary; from the leaf axils; just above the water surface.
Corolla: bright yellow; star-shaped with six lobes (petals) in total.
Sepals: 3 greenish.
Stamens: 6 stamens; three are longer than the others.
Ovary: superior.
Nectary: insignificant.
Pollination: by insects, primarily small bees, flies.
Fruit: small, elongated capsule; with multiple seeds.
Dispersion: by water.