Spermatophytes (seed plants): Angiosperms (flowering plants): Monocots: Commelinids: Commelinales
Dig deeper at SERNEC, a consortium of southeastern herbaria.
Aquatic weeds can clog irrigation channels and cover lakes, threatening crops and wildlife. Read more -- Outlawed! Federal Noxious Weeds: The Aquatics.
Check out EDDMapS.org to see where this has been reported.
The distinguishing characteristics of M. vaginalis are the spike-like inflorescence opposite the floral leaf, and the one stamen with a lateral, oblique, erect tooth. Read more at Invasive Species Compendium.
PLANTS NATIONAL DATABASE:
Monochoria vaginalis
FAMILY
Pontederiaceae
(?) Total evidence phylogeny of Pontederiaceae (Commelinales) ... (Pellegrini, et al., 2018)
Pontederia vaginalis
COMMON NAME:
Monochoria, heartshape false pickerelweed
No pictures are available at this time.
PLANTS NATIONAL DATABASE:
Monochoria vaginalis
FAMILY
Pontederiaceae
(?)
Total evidence phylogeny of Pontederiaceae (Commelinales) ... (Pellegrini, et al., 2018)
Pontederia vaginalis
4396
Emergent aquatic (rooted); Forb
Annual/Perennial
Non-native
This plant is causing problems in natural areas outside its native range, according to authorities such as:
- SC Department of Natural Resources Aquatic Nuisance Species List, 2003
- SC List of Regulated Pest Plant Species, 2017
- USDA Federal Noxious Weeds, 091820
LEAVES:
Simple
RHIZOMES? STOLONS?
Rhizomes short
FLOWER:
Violet or lilac
6 petals
6 stamens
Bisexual
Inflorescence a spikelike raceme
FRUIT:
Capsule
TO LEARN MORE about this plant, look it up in a good book!
If a search such as "Carex leptalea var. leptalea" doesn't deliver the results you want, try "Carex leptalea".
Or, to minimize chances of a misspelling, try just "Carex le".
Less is more: If "pencil flower" doesn't deliver the results you want, try "pencil".