Peltandra

Scientific name

Peltandra Raf.

Family

Araceae

Similar genera

Alocasia, Colocasia, Sagittaria, Typhonodorum, Zantedeschia

Native distribution

North America

Species cultivated

Peltandra virginica (L.) Schott

Adventive distribution

none

Weed status

not weedy

Habit

emergentemergent:
(adj) (syn. emersed) with parts raised out of the water; extending up out of the water
, broad-leaved rosetterosette:
(n) a radiating cluster of leaves, usually close to the ground at the base of a plant
plant

Brief description

Rhizomes perennialperennial:
(adj) (of a plant) having a life cycle of more than two years
, foliage annual. Rhizomerhizome:
(n) an underground stem, usually growing horizontally, from which both roots and shoots emerge directly; the thick, above-ground stem of ferns
stout, erect. Leaves in basalbasal:
(adj) at or pertaining to the base, or point of attachment
rosetterosette:
(n) a radiating cluster of leaves, usually close to the ground at the base of a plant
; petioles elongate; leaf bladeblade:
(n) (syn. lamina) the flat, expanded part of a leaf, frond, or petal (excluding, e.g., the petiole)
large, sagittatesagittate:
(adj) shaped like an arrowhead
. Inflorescenceinflorescence:
(n) the arrangement of flowers on the floral axis
a spadixspadix:
(n) a spike of small flowers borne on a thick, fleshy axis
, mostly concealed by spathespathe:
(n) a large bract or bracts subtending and often enclosing an inflorescence
; spadixspadix:
(n) a spike of small flowers borne on a thick, fleshy axis
bearing male flowers apically, female flowers basally. Perianthperianth:
(n) collective term for the calyx and corolla of a flower; also used for floral whorl(s) in which the calyx and corolla cannot be resolved; any of the leaves or bracts surrounding the sex organs of bryophytes
absent; anthers united into a mass. Dispersal by fleshy berries.

Natural habitat

shallow water and wet ground of swamps and lakes

Additional comments

A small genus of two species. Peltandra virginica is commonly cultivated for pond margins.