''Nymphoides'', or floatingheart, is a

genus Genus (; : genera ) is a taxonomic rank above species and below family (taxonomy), family as used in the biological classification of extant taxon, living and fossil organisms as well as Virus classification#ICTV classification, viruses. In bino ...

of aquatic

flowering plant Flowering plants are plants that bear flowers and fruits, and form the clade Angiospermae (). The term angiosperm is derived from the Ancient Greek, Greek words (; 'container, vessel') and (; 'seed'), meaning that the seeds are enclosed with ...

s in the family

Menyanthaceae Menyanthaceae is a family of aquatic and wetland plants in the order Asterales. There are approximately 60-70 species in six genera distributed worldwide. The simple or compound leaves arise alternately from a creeping rhizome. In the submers ...

. The genus name refers to their resemblance to the water lily ''

Nymphaea ''Nymphaea'' () is a genus of hardiness (plants), hardy and tender aquatic plants in the family Nymphaeaceae. The genus has a cosmopolitan distribution. Many species are cultivated as ornamental plants, and many cultivars have been bred. Some ta ...

''. ''Nymphoides'' are aquatic plants with submerged roots and floating

leaves A leaf (: leaves) is a principal appendage of the stem of a vascular plant, usually borne laterally above ground and specialized for photosynthesis. Leaves are collectively called foliage, as in "autumn foliage", while the leaves, stem, ...

that hold the small

flower Flowers, also known as blooms and blossoms, are the reproductive structures of flowering plants ( angiosperms). Typically, they are structured in four circular levels, called whorls, around the end of a stalk. These whorls include: calyx, m ...

s above the water surface.

Flower Flowers, also known as blooms and blossoms, are the reproductive structures of flowering plants ( angiosperms). Typically, they are structured in four circular levels, called whorls, around the end of a stalk. These whorls include: calyx, m ...

s are

sympetalous Sympetally (fused petals) is a flower characteristic that historically was used to classify a grouping of plants termed Sympetalae, but this term has been abandoned in newer molecular based classifications, although the grouping has similarity to ...

, most often divided into five lobes (petals). The petals are either yellow or white, and may be adorned with lateral wings or covered in small hairs. The

inflorescence In botany, an inflorescence is a group or cluster of flowers arranged on a plant's Plant stem, stem that is composed of a main branch or a system of branches. An inflorescence is categorized on the basis of the arrangement of flowers on a mai ...

consists of either an

umbel UMBEL (Upper Mapping and Binding Exchange Layer) is a logically organized knowledge graph of 34,000 concepts and entity types that can be used in information science for relating information from disparate sources to one another. It was retired ...

late cluster of flowers or a lax

raceme A raceme () or racemoid is an unbranched, indeterminate growth, indeterminate type of inflorescence bearing flowers having short floral stalks along the shoots that bear the flowers. The oldest flowers grow close to the base and new flowers are ...

, with internodes occurring between generally paired flowers. Species of ''Nymphoides'' are sold as aquarium plants, including the "banana plant", '' N. aquatica'' and the "water snowflake", '' N. indica''. Species native to the United States are '' N. cordata'' in the northeast and '' N. aquatica'' in the southeast. ''

Nymphoides peltata ''Nymphoides peltata'' (syn. ''Villarsia nymphaeoides'', ''Limnanthemum peltatum'' S.G. Gmel., ''Nymphoides nymphaeoides'' (L.) Britton, fringed water lily, yellow floating heart, floating heart, water fringe, entire marshwort) is perennial, root ...

'' is native to Europe and Asia, but can be found in the United States as an invasive aquatic weed. The non-native species '' N. cristata'' and '' N. indica'' also reportedly occur in Florida (Jacono 2000). ''

Nymphoides hydrophylla ''Nymphoides hydrophylla'', commonly known as crested floating-heart, is an aquatic plant of the family Menyanthaceae native to tropical Asia. It has cordate floating leaves that support a lax inflorescence of dainty white flowers with fringed pe ...

'' slim

stem Stem or STEM most commonly refers to: * Plant stem, a structural axis of a vascular plant * Stem group * Science, technology, engineering, and mathematics Stem or STEM can also refer to: Language and writing * Word stem, part of a word respon ...

(spear) are used as

vegetable Vegetables are edible parts of plants that are consumed by humans or other animals as food. This original meaning is still commonly used, and is applied to plants collectively to refer to all edible plant matter, including edible flower, flo ...

Meinong District Meinong District (WG: Meinung, Hakka: 瀰濃 Mî-nùng, ) is a Hakka district in Kaohsiung, Taiwan. Meinong is one of the four districts in Kaohsiung that is the central focus of Hakka cultural development, the others being Jiasian District, Sha ...

Kaohsiung Kaohsiung, officially Kaohsiung City, is a special municipality located in southern Taiwan. It ranges from the coastal urban center to the rural Yushan Range with an area of . Kaohsiung City has a population of approximately 2.73 million p ...

Taiwan Taiwan, officially the Republic of China (ROC), is a country in East Asia. The main geography of Taiwan, island of Taiwan, also known as ''Formosa'', lies between the East China Sea, East and South China Seas in the northwestern Pacific Ocea ...

. Numerous species of ''Nymphoides'' grow in Australia, and others exist in Africa, America, and Asia. ;Species Nymphoides indica1

There are approximately 50 species of ''Nymphoides'', including:

Pantropical A pantropical ("all tropics") distribution is one which covers tropical regions of both the Eastern and Western hemispheres. Examples of species include caecilians, modern sirenians and the plant genera ''Acacia'' and ''Bacopa''. ''Neotropical' ...

: * ''

Nymphoides indica ''Nymphoides indica'' is an aquatic plant in the Menyanthaceae, native to tropical areas around the world. It is sometimes cultivated, and has become a minor weed in Florida, where it resembles the native ''Nymphoides aquatica''. Common names i ...

'' (L.) Kuntze Africa: * '' Nymphoides bosseri'' A.Raynal * '' Nymphoides brevipedicellata'' (Vatke) A.Raynal * ''

Nymphoides elegans ''Nymphoides'', or floatingheart, is a genus of aquatic flowering plants in the family Menyanthaceae. The genus name refers to their resemblance to the water lily ''Nymphaea''. ''Nymphoides'' are aquatic plants with submerged roots and floating l ...

'' A.Raynal * '' Nymphoides ezannoi'' Berhaut * '' Nymphoides forbesiana'' (Griseb.) Kuntze * '' Nymphoides guineensis'' A.Raynal * ''

Nymphoides humilis ''Nymphoides'', or floatingheart, is a genus of aquatic flowering plants in the family Menyanthaceae. The genus name refers to their resemblance to the water lily ''Nymphaea''. ''Nymphoides'' are aquatic plants with submerged roots and floating l ...

'' A.Raynal * '' Nymphoides milnei'' A.Raynal * '' Nymphoides moratiana'' A.Raynal * ''

Nymphoides rautaneni ''Nymphoides'', or floatingheart, is a genus of aquatic flowering plants in the family Menyanthaceae. The genus name refers to their resemblance to the water lily ''Nymphaea''. ''Nymphoides'' are aquatic plants with submerged roots and floating L ...

'' (N.E.Br.) A.Raynal * '' Nymphoides tenuissima'' A.Raynal * ''

Nymphoides thunbergiana ''Nymphoides'', or floatingheart, is a genus of aquatic flowering plants in the family Menyanthaceae. The genus name refers to their resemblance to the water lily ''Nymphaea''. ''Nymphoides'' are aquatic plants with submerged roots and floating l ...

'' (Griseb.) Kuntze North America: * ''

Nymphoides aquatica ''Nymphoides aquatica'' is an aquatic plant in the Menyanthaceae, native to the southeastern United States from Texas to Maryland. It is known variously as the banana plant, banana lily, and the big floatingheart. It is most commonly called the ...

'' (J.F.Gmel.) Kuntze * ''

Nymphoides cordata ''Nymphoides cordata'', the little floatingheart, is a species of floating aquatic plant native to eastern North America. Description The floating leaves are 30–70 mm long and cordate (or heart-shaped), with smooth, purple lower surfaces. The ...

'' (Elliott) Fernald Central and South America: * ''

Nymphoides fallax ''Nymphoides'', or floatingheart, is a genus of aquatic flowering plants in the family Menyanthaceae. The genus name refers to their resemblance to the water lily ''Nymphaea''. ''Nymphoides'' are aquatic plants with submerged roots and floating l ...

'' Ornduff * ''

Nymphoides flaccida ''Nymphoides'', or floatingheart, is a genus of aquatic flowering plants in the family Menyanthaceae. The genus name refers to their resemblance to the water lily ''Nymphaea''. ''Nymphoides'' are aquatic plants with submerged roots and floating l ...

'' L.Sm. * '' Nymphoides grayana'' (Griseb.) Kuntze * '' Nymphoides herzogii'' A.Galàn-Mera & G.Navarro * ''

Nymphoides humboldtiana ''Nymphoides'', or floatingheart, is a genus of aquatic flowering plants in the family Menyanthaceae. The genus name refers to their resemblance to the water lily ''Nymphaea''. ''Nymphoides'' are aquatic plants with submerged roots and floating l ...

'' (Kunth) Kuntze * '' Nymphoides microphylla'' (A.St.-Hil.) Kuntze * '' Nymphoides verrucosa'' (R.E.Fries)A.Galàn-Mera & G.Navarro Eurasia: * ''

'' (S.G.Gmel.) Kuntze Asia: * ''

Nymphoides balakrishnanii ''Nymphoides balakrishnanii'' is an aquatic plant in the Menyanthaceae, endemic to lateritic plateaus of the southern Western Ghats of India. Distribution This species is restricted to a seasonal pond in the lateritic hillocks of Koovapara ...

'' P.Biju, Josekutty, Haneef & Augustine * ''

Nymphoides coreana ''Nymphoides'', or floatingheart, is a genus of aquatic flowering plants in the family Menyanthaceae. The genus name refers to their resemblance to the water lily ''Nymphaea''. ''Nymphoides'' are aquatic plants with submerged roots and floating l ...

'' (Léveille) Hara * ''

Nymphoides hastata ''Nymphoides'', or floatingheart, is a genus of aquatic flowering plants in the family Menyanthaceae. The genus name refers to their resemblance to the water lily ''Nymphaea''. ''Nymphoides'' are aquatic plants with submerged roots and floating l ...

'' (Dop) Kerr * ''

'' (Lour.) Kuntze * ''

Nymphoides krishnakesara ''Nymphoides'', or floatingheart, is a genus of aquatic flowering plants in the family Menyanthaceae. The genus name refers to their resemblance to the water lily ''Nymphaea''. ''Nymphoides'' are aquatic plants with submerged roots and floating l ...

'' K.T.Joseph & Sivar. * '' Nymphoides lungtanensis'' S.P.Li, T.H.Hsieh & C.C.Lin * ''

Nymphoides macrospermum ''Nymphoides macrospermum'' is a critically endangered aquatic plant of the family Menyanthaceae endemic to Alwaye in Kerala, India. It is an annual herb which has been observed in paddy fields, lagoons and slowly flowing streams. It is dioeciou ...

'' Vasudevan * ''

Nymphoides siamensis ''Nymphoides'', or floatingheart, is a genus of aquatic flowering plants in the family Menyanthaceae. The genus name refers to their resemblance to the water lily ''Nymphaea''. ''Nymphoides'' are aquatic plants with submerged roots and floating l ...

'' (Ostenf.) Kerr * ''

Nymphoides sivarajanii ''Nymphoides'', or floatingheart, is a genus of aquatic flowering plants in the family Menyanthaceae. The genus name refers to their resemblance to the water lily ''Nymphaea''. ''Nymphoides'' are aquatic plants with submerged roots and floating l ...

'' K.T.Joseph * '' Nymphoides tonkinensis'' (Dop) P.H.Ho Asia and Australia: * ''

Nymphoides aurantiaca ''Nymphoides'', or floatingheart, is a genus of aquatic flowering plants in the family Menyanthaceae. The genus name refers to their resemblance to the water lily ''Nymphaea''. ''Nymphoides'' are aquatic plants with submerged roots and floating l ...

'' (Dalzell) Kuntze * '' Nymphoides parvifolia'' (Wall.) Kuntze Australia: * ''

Nymphoides beaglensis ''Nymphoides'', or floatingheart, is a genus of aquatic flowering plants in the family Menyanthaceae. The genus name refers to their resemblance to the water lily ''Nymphaea''. ''Nymphoides'' are aquatic plants with submerged roots and floating l ...

'' Aston * '' Nymphoides crenata'' (F.Muell.) Kuntze * ''

Nymphoides disperma ''Nymphoides'', or floatingheart, is a genus of aquatic flowering plants in the family Menyanthaceae. The genus name refers to their resemblance to the water lily ''Nymphaea''. ''Nymphoides'' are aquatic plants with submerged roots and floating l ...

'' Aston * ''

Nymphoides elliptica ''Nymphoides'', or floatingheart, is a genus of aquatic flowering plants in the family Menyanthaceae. The genus name refers to their resemblance to the water lily ''Nymphaea''. ''Nymphoides'' are aquatic plants with submerged roots and floating l ...

'' Aston * '' Nymphoides exigua'' (F.Muell.) Kuntze * ''

Nymphoides exiliflora ''Nymphoides'', or floatingheart, is a genus of aquatic flowering plants in the family Menyanthaceae. The genus name refers to their resemblance to the water lily ''Nymphaea''. ''Nymphoides'' are aquatic plants with submerged roots and floating l ...

'' (F.Muell.) Kuntze * '' Nymphoides furculifolia'' Specht * ''

Nymphoides geminata ''Nymphoides geminata'', commonly known as entire marshwort, is an aquatic plant of the family Menyanthaceae native to eastern Australia. It was first described by Robert Brown (botanist, born 1773), Robert Brown in 1810 as ''Villarsia geminata' ...

'' (R.Br.) Kuntze * '' Nymphoides hydrocharioides'' (F.Muell.) Kuntze * '' Nymphoides montana'' Aston * ''

Nymphoides planosperma ''Nymphoides'', or floatingheart, is a genus of aquatic flowering plants in the family Menyanthaceae. The genus name refers to their resemblance to the water lily ''Nymphaea''. ''Nymphoides'' are aquatic plants with submerged roots and floating l ...

'' Aston * ''

Nymphoides quadriloba ''Nymphoides'', or floatingheart, is a genus of aquatic flowering plants in the family Menyanthaceae. The genus name refers to their resemblance to the water lily ''Nymphaea''. ''Nymphoides'' are aquatic plants with submerged roots and floating l ...

'' Aston * ''

Nymphoides simulans ''Nymphoides'', or floatingheart, is a genus of aquatic flowering plants in the family Menyanthaceae. The genus name refers to their resemblance to the water lily ''Nymphaea''. ''Nymphoides'' are aquatic plants with submerged roots and floating l ...

'' Aston * '' Nymphoides spinulosperma'' Aston * '' Nymphoides spongiosa'' Aston * '' Nymphoides stygia'' (J.M.Black) H.Eichler * ''

Nymphoides subacuta ''Nymphoides'', or floatingheart, is a genus of aquatic flowering plants in the family Menyanthaceae. The genus name refers to their resemblance to the water lily ''Nymphaea''. ''Nymphoides'' are aquatic plants with submerged roots and floating l ...

'' Aston * '' Nymphoides triangularis'' Aston

References

Jacono, C. 2000. Know ''Nymphoides''. ''Aquaphyte'' 22 (supplemental insert)

{{Authority control Asterales genera