Pontederiaceae

Heteranthera zosterifolia

Common Names: Water star grass

Plant Form: Mat-forming aquatic plant. Size: Up to 50 cm long. Stem: Both submerged and floating on surface. Leaves: Underwater they are grass-like in star shaped rosette. Above water they are oval shaped with rounded tips, and on stalks up to 8 cm long. Flowers: White to pale blue, dark purplish-blue in the centre. With 6 petals. Usually in pairs but sometimes in groups of up to 10. Fruit and Seeds: Tiny capsules up to 1 mm across. Containing 8-14 winged seeds. Habitat: Wetlands, drains, dams. Distinguishing Features: Distinguished from Kidney-leaf mud-plantain (Heteranthera reniformis) by having underwater leaves and oval shaped leaves above surface.