Pontederia cordata Linnaeus var. cordata . Heartleaf Pickerelweed. Phen: May-Oct. Hab: Swamps, seepage areas, marshes, pond-shores, lake-shores. Dist: NS west to MN, south to s. FL and TX; Belize; s. Brazil, Argentina, Paraguay, and Uruguay.

Origin/Endemic status: Native

Taxonomy Comments: The recognition of infraspecific taxa in Pontederia cordata is controversial and requires additional study.

Other Comments: P. cordata exhibits tristyly, an interesting breeding system. Each plant has one of 3 types of flowers: (a) a short style, 3 medium and 3 long stamens, (b) a medium style, 3 short and 3 long stamens, or (c) a long style, 3 short and 3 medium stamens.

Synonymy: = GW1, Meso6, Mo1, Tx, Va, Lowden (1973); = Pontederia cordata L. – F, G, S, S13, WV; < Pontederia cordata L. – Ar, C, ETx1, FNA26, Il, K1, K3, K4, NcTx, NE, NY, Pa, RAB, Tat, Tn, W, WH3

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Wetland Indicator Status:

• Atlantic and Gulf Coastal Plain: OBL (taxonomic split from wetland indicator species)
• Eastern Mountains and Piedmont: OBL (taxonomic split from wetland indicator species)
• Great Plains: OBL (taxonomic split from wetland indicator species)
• Midwest: OBL (taxonomic split from wetland indicator species)
• Northcentral & Northeast: OBL (taxonomic split from wetland indicator species)

Heliophily: 8