| Pontederiaceae | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Pontederia crassipes | |
Scientific classification | |
| Kingdom: | Plantae |
| Clade: | Tracheophytes |
| Clade: | Angiosperms |
| Clade: | Monocots |
| Clade: | Commelinids |
| Order: | Commelinales |
| Family: | Pontederiaceae Kunth[1] |
| Genera | |
See text | |
Pontederiaceae is afamily offlowering plants.
TheAPG IV system of 2016 (unchanged from theAPG III system of 2009, theAPG II system of 2003 and theAPG system of 1998) places the family in the orderCommelinales, in thecommelinidclade, in themonocots.[1][2] It is a small family ofheterostylousaquatic plants, occurring intropical andsubtropical waters.Charles Darwin was interested in the specialized form ofheterostyly found in the family, known as tristyly. Not all of the species are heterostylous. The family contains two genera with around 40 known species.[3][4]
It is best known for the water hyacinth (Pontederia crassipes), which is aninvasive species in many waterways. The highly modifiedHeteranthera gardneri is a submerged aquatic with a two-floweredpseudanthium.
The two genera within this family are:[4][5]
Media related toPontederiaceae at Wikimedia Commons
Data related toPontederiaceae at Wikispecies
