kidney leaf mudplantain
Distinguished by kidney-shaped leaves, non-rosette leaves on a stalk; flowers in spikes of 2-8, spikes about as long as the 0.8-5.5 cm long bract on one side (spathe); filaments of stamens with white hairs.
Currently thought to be limited to South East Queensland and Northern NSW
Prefers shallow waterways and ponded pastures. Tends to be disturbed in flooding events leading to further dispersal.
Mostly prostrate perennial to annual water plant
This fast growing anchored aquatic weed quickly invades shallow water courses obstructing stream flow and threatenting infrastructure. Outcompetes native aquatic species forming dense monocultures and impacting on aquatic animal habitat.
Stems submerged or prostrate on land. Leaves bright green kidney shaped and of two types, leaves without a stalk in a basal rosette, leaves on a stalk 2-13 cm long on trailing or immersed stems. Latter leaves on stems 1-4.5 cm long and 1-5 cm wide.
Inflorescence spike-like, axillary. Flowers with spreading white limbs 3-6.5 mm long and shorter upper limb yellow or green at base and mauve towards apex; lasting for a few hours. Flowers summer and autumn in temperate to subtropical areas, all year round in the tropics.
Reproduces both from seed and vegetative fragmentation, typically dispersed by water movement. Seeds thought to have prolonged viability when trapped in wet muds.
Mud Plantain closely resembles Water Hyacinth (Eichornia crassipes) in leaf form and habitat. Can be distinguised by its anchored, prostrate form as opposed to the free-floating upright form of water hyacinth and its non-distinct white flowers as opposed to water hyacinth showy purple and white flowers.
