Stolons often present, terete. Leaves: submersed leaves phyllodia, (expanded petioles resembling and functioning like leaves), sessile; floating leaves long-petiolate, petioles terete, septate; blade orbiculate to oblong-lanceolate, base cordate [rounded], apex mucronate to obtuse. Inflorescences occasionally proliferating with stolons, leaves; scape septate; bracts subtending pedicel, distinct, elliptic to lanceolate, shorter than pedicel, delicate. Flowers: sepals persistent, erect, green, lanceolate, leathery, midvein absent [present], apex hoodlike; petals erect to spreading, yellow to white, orbiculate [oblong-obovate], longer than [shorter than] sepals; stamens in [1–]4–5 series, outer often sterile; pistils terete, linear-lanceoloid, attenuate into style, style curved inward, apex papillose. Fruits ± terete, linear-lanceoloid, membranous, dehiscing along adaxial margins. Seeds 50 or more, sparsely to densely glandular-pubescent.

Distribution

North America, South America.

Discussion

Species 5 (1 in the flora).

Selected References

Kenton, A. 1982. A Robertsonian relationship in the chromosomes of two species of Hydrocleys (Butomaceae sens. lat.). Kew Bull. 36: 487--492.

Lower Taxa

Hydrocleys nymphoides