Pontederia sagittata is a species of aquatic plant belonging to the family Pontederiaceae.^[1]

Quick Facts Pontederia sagittata, Scientific classification ...

Pontederia sagittata
Scientific classification
Kingdom:	Plantae
Clade:	Tracheophytes
Clade:	Angiosperms
Clade:	Monocots
Clade:	Commelinids
Order:	Commelinales
Family:	Pontederiaceae
Genus:	Pontederia
Species:	P. sagittata
Binomial name
Pontederia sagittata C.Presl
Synonyms[1]
Pontederia cordata f. sagittata (C.Presl) Solms Pontederia cordata var. sagittata (C.Presl) Schery

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It is a perennial plant with erect, rhizomatous tough stems. Basal leaves, emerging; pods 10–27 cm, the apex emarginate; petioles up to 1 m, not inflated, sometimes reddish; Blades 8-32 x 5–19 cm, lanceolate, the base cordate, the apex acute. Inflorescence with more than 50 flowers; flowers arranged in groups of 3, 4 or more along the peduncle, sessile; peduncle (6-)10-20(-22) cm, thick, hairy to hairy or rarely glabrous; internode between spathes (3.5-)5-16(-20) cm; blade of lower spathe 8-32 x 5–19 cm; upper spathe (3-)4-7(-9) cm, open on the upper 1/2, the apex mucronulate. 1.5 cm flowers. Perianth lilac or rarely white, externally hairy-glandular; outer lobes c. 6mm; internal lobes c. 6mm Long filaments 6–9 mm, with glandular hairs in the upper 1/3, short ones 0.7-3.5 mm, with glandular hairs in the upper 1/3; anthers of upper whorl 0.75–1 mm, yellow; anthers of lower whorl 0.55-0.85 mm, yellow. Pistil 3–6 mm; style hairy towards apex; stigma 3-lobed. Utricles 5–6 mm, deltiform, with smooth rib edges; seeds 2.3-2.5 mm, smooth, obovoid, covered by a mucilaginous layer with an oily appearance.^{[citation needed]}

Pontederia sagittata was first described by Carl Presl in 1827. It has sometimes been reduced to a form or variety of Pontederia cordata.^[1]

Pontederia sagittata has a discontinuous distribution, being native from Mexico to Central America and then eastern and southern Brazil.^[1] It is found on the edges of rivers, lagoons, ponds, and swamps,^[2] at altitudes of up to 1,500 m (4,900 ft).^{[citation needed]}