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Brasenia schreberi J.F. Gmelin. Water-shield, Purple Wen-dock. Phen: Jun-Oct. Hab: Lakes, ponds, sluggish streams, floodplain oxbow ponds, beaver ponds. Dist: NS west to MN, south to s. FL and TX; also from BC south to CA; se. Asia.

ID notes: The elliptical, peltate leaves are distinctive in comparison to our other rooted aquatics with broad, floating leaves. Also distinctive is the thick layer of gelatinous mucilage coating underwater parts of the plant (stems, petioles, and leaf undersurfaces), presumably acting as an anti-herbivory deterrent.

Origin/Endemic status: Native

Synonymy ⓘ: = AqW, Ar, C, F, Fl2, FNA3, G, GrPl, GW2, Il, K1, K3, K4, Mi, Mo2, NcTx, NE, NY, Pa, RAB, S, Tat, Tn, Tx, Va, W, WH3; = Brasenia peltata Pursh; = Brasenia purpurea (Michx.) Casp. – S13; = Menyanthes nymphoides L.

Links to other floras: = Brasenia schreberi - FNA3

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Wetland Indicator Status:

  • Atlantic and Gulf Coastal Plain: OBL
  • Eastern Mountains and Piedmont: OBL
  • Great Plains: OBL
  • Midwest: OBL
  • Northcentral & Northeast: OBL

Heliophily ⓘ: 8

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image of plant© Bruce A. Sorrie | Original Image ⭷
image of plant© Grant Morrow Parkins | Original Image ⭷
image of plant© Gary P. Fleming | Original Image ⭷
image of plant© Will Stuart | Original Image ⭷
image of plant© Emily Oglesby | Original Image ⭷

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Horticultural Information

NCBG trait

Intro: Aquatic perennial of lakes, ponds, sluggish streams, floodplain oxbow ponds and beaver ponds.

Stems: Stems usually submerged (occasionally floating), slender, reddish and coated with a thick layer of clear jelly.

Leaves: Leaves on stalk attached to center of blade, floating, elliptic, to 5 in. long and 3 in. wide, upper surface green, lower surface and stalk maroon red and and coated with layer of clear jelly.

Inforescence:

Flowers: Flowers solitary, held above water surface on red stems, red, about 1 in. wide, consisting of 6 recurved tepals, a cluster of erect, pinkish-purple stamens and a pink ovary.

Fruits:

Comments:

Height:

plant sale text:

bloom table text:

description: Aquatic perennial of lakes, ponds, sluggish streams, floodplain oxbow ponds and beaver ponds.

stems: Stems usually submerged (occasionally floating), slender, reddish and coated with a thick layer of clear jelly.

leaves: Leaves on stalk attached to center of blade, floating, elliptic, to 5 in. long and 3 in. wide, upper surface green, lower surface and stalk maroon red and and coated with layer of clear jelly.

inflorescence:

flowers: Flowers solitary, held above water surface on red stems, red, about 1 in. wide, consisting of 6 recurved tepals, a cluster of erect, pinkish-purple stamens and a pink ovary.

fruits:

comments:

cultural notes:

germination code:

native range: North America to Central America & Africa