MENYANTHACEAE
Morphological description
Aquatic herbs.
Leaves
Leaves simple, entire, spiral, exstipulate. Floating leaves usually peltate.
Inflorescence
Inflorescence.
Flowers
Flower bisexual, actinomorphic; calyx and corolla tubular, lobes valvate; ovary superior, 1-locular, placentation parietal. Corolla lobes long hairy.
Fruit
Fruit usually a capsule.
Seed
Seed.
Different from: Gentianaceae: terrestrial plants, leaves opposite, corolla lobes contorted.
Distribution: The family worldwide. In Malesia 2 genera, including : - Nymphoides (Limnanthemum), widespread in lowland.
Notes: Some species are (potential) ornamentals. The family is often united with Gentianaceae.
Literature: C.A. Backer & R.C. Bakhuizen van den Brink, Fl. Java 2 (1965) 441; H. Aston in Leach and Osborne, Freshwater Plants PNG (1985) 180-185.
Spot characters (Van Balgooy): Nymphoides 51, 81.
Illustrations: Fig. 116. Nymphoides (Limnanthemum) indica (L.) O. Kuntze (Menyanthaceae). Reproduced from M.R. Henderson, Malayan wild flowers, Dicotyledons (1949/51, repr. 1974) 307. With kind permission of the Malaysian Nature Society.
Image in PhytoImages for Menyanthaceae