Nymphoides

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Nymphoides, or floatingheart,[1] is a genus of aquatic flowering plants in the family Menyanthaceae. The genus name refers to their resemblance to the water lily Nymphaea. Nymphoides are aquatic plants with submerged roots and floating leaves that hold the small flowers above the water surface. Flowers are sympetalous, most often divided into five lobes (petals). The petals are either yellow or white, and may be adorned with lateral wings or covered in small hairs. The inflorescence consists of either an umbellate cluster of flowers or a lax raceme, with internodes occurring between generally paired flowers.

File:Nymphoides indica2.jpg
flower of Nymphoides indica
File:Nymphoides ezannoi - blossom (aka).jpg
flower of Nymphoides ezannoi

Species of Nymphoides are sold as aquarium plants, including the "banana plant", N. aquatica and the "water snowflake", N. indica. Species native to the United States are N. cordata in the northeast and N. aquatica in the southeast. Nymphoides peltata is native to Europe and Asia, but can be found in the United States as an invasive aquatic weed. The non-native species N. cristata and N. indica also reportedly occur in Florida (Jacono 2000).

Nymphoides hydrophylla slim stem (spear) are used as vegetable at Meinong District, Kaohsiung, Taiwan.

Numerous species of Nymphoides grow in Australia, and others exist in Africa, America, and Asia.

Species
File:Nymphoides indica1.jpg
Nymphoides indica
File:Nymphoides aquatica.JPG
Nymphoides aquatica
File:Nymphoides cordata 7066.jpg
Nymphoides cordata
File:NymphoidesPeltata-flower2-hr.jpg
Nymphoides peltata
File:Nymphoides coreana.jpg
Nymphoides coreana
File:Nymphoides hydrophylla.jpg
Nymphoides hydrophylla
File:Nymphoides krishnakesara 13.JPG
Nymphoides krishnakesara

There are approximately 50 species of Nymphoides, including:

Pantropical:

Africa:

North America:

Central and South America:

Eurasia:

Asia:

Asia and Australia:

Australia:

References

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