Spermatophytes (seed plants): Angiosperms (flowering plants): Eudicots: Core Eudicots: Asterids: Campanulids: Asterales
WEAKLEY'S FLORA OF THE SOUTHEASTERN US (4/24/22):
Nymphoides cristata
FAMILY
Menyanthaceae
Go to FSUS key
Dig deeper at SERNEC, a consortium of southeastern herbaria.
It is now illegal to possess these plants in South Carolina. Read more.
The US's first free living populations of the plant outside of Florida were found in SC. Read more.
Check out EDDMapS.org to see where this has been reported.
SYNONYMOUS WITH
PLANTS NATIONAL DATABASE:
Nymphoides cristata
FAMILY
Menyanthaceae
SYNONYMOUS WITH Floristic Synthesis of North America. BONAP (Kartesz, 2021)
Nymphoides cristata
COMMON NAME:
Crested Floating Heart, Water Snowflake
To see larger pictures, click or hover over the thumbnails.
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JK Marlow jkm160914_126
September
SE-EPPC Aquatic Plant ID Workshop
Floating stems with single leaves, per Weakley's Flora (2015).
COMPARE
aquatic plants
)
JK Marlow jkm160914_126b
September
SE-EPPC Aquatic Plant ID Workshop
Introduced for water gardens & aquariums; a noxious aquatic weed in our area, per Weakley's Flora (2020).
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JK Marlow jkm160914_130
September
SE-EPPC Aquatic Plant ID Workshop
Calyx lobed to near base; lobes ovate-elliptic to ovate, apex obtuse, per Flora of China.
)
JK Marlow jkm160914_131
September
SE-EPPC Aquatic Plant ID Workshop
Flowers many, grouped on nodes, per Flora of China.
)
Keith Bradley kab_n_cristata_05403
September Collier County FL
Leaves more cordate, the basal lobes more rounded, than those of Nymphaea, per Weakley's Flora (2015).
)
Keith Bradley kab_n_cristata_05403b
September Collier County FL
Flowers white, adaxial petal surface bearing a ruffled crest down its length, per Weakley's Flora (2015).
WEAKLEY'S FLORA OF THE SOUTHEASTERN US (4/24/22):
Nymphoides cristata
FAMILY
Menyanthaceae
SYNONYMOUS WITH
PLANTS NATIONAL DATABASE:
Nymphoides cristata
FAMILY
Menyanthaceae
SYNONYMOUS WITH
Floristic Synthesis of North America. BONAP (Kartesz, 2021)
Nymphoides cristata
3807
Floating-leaved aquatic (rooted); Forb
Perennial
Habitat: Ponds and lakes, per Weakley's Flora
Non-native: China & India
Rare or waif(s)
CLICK HERE to see a map, notes, and images from Weakley's Flora of the Southeastern US.
This plant is causing problems in natural areas outside its native range, according to authorities such as:
- Florida Dept of Agriculture & Consumer Services
- Florida Exotic Pest Plant Council
- SC Exotic Pest Plant Council, 2014
- SC List of Regulated Pest Plant Species, 2017
LEAVES:
Simple
Floating stems with single leaves
FLOWER:
Spring/Summer
White
5-merous
5 sepals united at base
5 petals united only at base
5 stamens
Flowers clustered at nodes
FRUIT:
Summer?
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".