Pontederia cordata

Pontederia cordata, common name pickerelweed (USA) or pickerel weed (UK), is a monocotyledonous aquatic plant native to the Americas. It grows in a variety of wetlands, including pond and lake margins across an extremely large range from eastern Canada south to Argentina. A few examples include northern rivers, the Everglades and Louisiana.

Description

A perennial herb. It is an erect plant which grows in water. It has underground stems or rhizomes. It grows 90-120 cm high and 60-75 cm wide. The leaves develop from the base and have long leaf stalks. The leaf blade normally sticks out of the water. The first leaves may be floating. The mature leaf blades may be 20 cm long and 10 cm wide. They can be heart shaped or sword shaped. There is a small leaf below the flowering stalk. This can clasp the stem. The flower is a spike like panicle. It is dense and 5-15 cm long. It is blue. The flowers have both sexes. The flowers are funnel shaped. The fruit are hard egg shaped capsules 5-10 mm long.

Edible Uses

The seeds can be eaten raw — they have a very acceptable nutty flavour and texture — or cooked like rice, or dried and ground into a powder. Lightly roasting the seed in an oven is said to produce excellent results. Young leafstalks can be eaten raw or cooked. The whole plant is edible raw or cooked: it can be added to salads, cooked like spinach, or added to soups.

Traditional Uses

The seeds are eaten raw or boiled like rice. They can be dried and ground into flour for making bread. They can be slightly parched in an oven and eaten. Young leaves are cooked as a potherb. They are also added to salads, soups, and stews.

Medicinal Uses

An infusion of the plant has been used as a contraceptive.

Distribution

It is a temperate plant. It grows in stationary or slow flowing water up to about 1 m deep. It grows in the edges of lakes and ponds and along streams. It grows in warm places. In Argentina it grows from sea level to 1,000 m above sea level. It suits hardiness zones 2-5 (?).

Where It Grows

Africa, Argentina, Asia, Australia, Bolivia, Brazil, Britain, Canada, Central America*, Eswatini, Europe, Indonesia, Mexico* North America, Paraguay, SE Asia, Singapore, Southern Africa, South America, Swaziland, Uruguay, USA,

Cultivation

Plants are hardy to about -25°c. A very ornamental plant, it forms spreading patches by means of a thick creeping rhizome. There is a species of bee (Dufourea novae-angliae) which visits this plant for nectar and pollen and does not visit any other species of plant. The reproductive biology of Pontederia cordata has been well studied. It is a tristylous species, and most populations contain all three forms. At least some degree of self-incompatibility exists, being strongest with the short-style forms and weakest with the midstyle forms.

Propagation

Sow seed as soon as it is ripe in pots standing in 2 cm of water in a cold frame, covering it lightly with silver sand. After seedlings emerge, submerge the pots in 3 cm of water. Prick out into individual pots once large enough to handle and grow on in water in the greenhouse through the first winter. Plant out in late spring or early summer after the last expected frosts. Division is best done in April but can be carried out at almost any time of year. Larger divisions can go directly into permanent positions; smaller ones are better potted up and grown on in light shade in a cold frame until well established before planting out in late spring or early summer. Lateral shoots can also be used.

Other Uses

None known.

Notes

There are 5-6 Pontederia species. They grow in temperate and subtropical places.

Synonyms

Also Known As

Aguape, Camalote, Gulma pikerel, Lance-leaved pickerelweed, Lirio de agua, Lirio de laguna, Murure, Orelha-de-veado, Rainha-do-lago, Wampee

References (29)

• Bodkin, F., 1991, Encyclopedia Botanica. Cornstalk publishing, p 822
• Brickell, C. (Ed.), 1999, The Royal Horticultural Society A-Z Encyclopedia of Garden Plants. Convent Garden Books. p 820
• Cundall, P., (ed.), 2004, Gardening Australia: flora: the gardener's bible. ABC Books. p 1071
• Elias, T.S. & Dykeman P.A., 1990, Edible Wild Plants. A North American Field guide. Sterling, New York p 130 and p 133 (As Pontederia lanceolata)
• Esperanca, M. J., 1988. Surviving in the wild. A glance at the wild plants and their uses. Vol. 2. p 45 (As Pontederia lanceolata)

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