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POTAMOGETONACEAE

PONDWEED FAMILY

Robert F. Thorne

Annual, perennial herb, aquatic, (generally fresh to alkaline water), glabrous, from rhizomes or small, bulb-like, winter buds
Stems erect, simple to branched, cylindric or flattened
Leaves simple, cauline, alternate or in subopposite pairs; submersed thread-like to round, sessile or petioled; floating, if present, elliptic to ovate, petioled, leathery; sheath open, continuous with petiole or ± free from leaf base, generally with stipules, stipules sometimes fused, ligule-like
Inflorescence: spike or head-like, axillary or terminal, generally emergent, peduncled; bracts 0
Flower bisexual; perianth parts 0 or 4, clawed; stamens 2 or 4, if 4, each fused to base of perianth part, sessile or filament short, wide, anthers open to outside; pistils 4, ovary 1-chambered, ovule 1, style short or stigmas sessile
Fruit: drupe
Seed 1
Genera in family: 3 genera, ± 95 species: worldwide
Recent taxonomic note: Recently treated to include Zannichelliaceae [Angiosperm Phylogeny Group 1998 Ann Missouri Bot Gard 85:531–553].
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