''Nymphoides'', or floatingheart, is a

genus Genus ( plural genera ) is a taxonomic rank used in the biological classification of extant taxon, living and fossil organisms as well as Virus classification#ICTV classification, viruses. In the hierarchy of biological classification, genus com ...

of aquatic

flowering plant Flowering plants are plants that bear flowers and fruits, and form the clade Angiospermae (), commonly called angiosperms. The term "angiosperm" is derived from the Greek words ('container, vessel') and ('seed'), and refers to those plants th ...

s in the family Menyanthaceae. The genus name refers to their resemblance to the water lily ''

Nymphaea ''Nymphaea'' () is a genus of 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 taxa occur as introduc ...

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

leaves A leaf (plural, : leaves) is any of the principal appendages of a vascular plant plant stem, stem, usually borne laterally aboveground and specialized for photosynthesis. Leaves are collectively called foliage, as in "autumn foliage", wh ...

that hold the small

flower A flower, sometimes known as a bloom or blossom, is the reproductive structure found in flowering plants (plants of the division Angiospermae). The biological function of a flower is to facilitate reproduction, usually by providing a mechani ...

s above the water surface.

Flower A flower, sometimes known as a bloom or blossom, is the reproductive structure found in flowering plants (plants of the division Angiospermae). The biological function of a flower is to facilitate reproduction, usually by providing a mechani ...

s are sympetalous, 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 An inflorescence is a group or cluster of flowers arranged on a stem that is composed of a main branch or a complicated arrangement of branches. Morphologically, it is the modified part of the shoot of seed plants where flowers are formed o ...

consists of either an

umbel In botany, an umbel is an inflorescence that consists of a number of short flower stalks (called pedicels) that spread from a common point, somewhat like umbrella ribs. The word was coined in botanical usage in the 1590s, from Latin ''umbella'' "p ...

late cluster of flowers or a lax

raceme A raceme ( or ) or racemoid is an unbranched, 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 produced as the s ...

, 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 Invasive may refer to: *Invasive (medical) procedure *Invasive species *Invasive observation, especially in reference to surveillance *Invasively progressive spread of disease from one organ in the body to another, especially in reference to cancer ...

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 may refer to: Plant structures * Plant stem, a plant's aboveground axis, made of vascular tissue, off which leaves and flowers hang * Stipe (botany), a stalk to support some other structure * Stipe (mycology), the stem of a mushro ...

(spear) are used as

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

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, Shanl ...

Kaohsiung Kaohsiung City (Mandarin Chinese: ; Wade–Giles: ''Kao¹-hsiung²;'' Pinyin: ''Gāoxióng'') is a special municipality located in southern Taiwan. It ranges from the coastal urban center to the rural Yushan Range with an area of . Kaohsi ...

Taiwan Taiwan, officially the Republic of China (ROC), is a country in East Asia, at the junction of the East and South China Seas in the northwestern Pacific Ocean, with the People's Republic of China (PRC) to the northwest, Japan to the nort ...

. 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 Tropics, tropical regions of both hemispheres. Examples of species include caecilians, modern sirenians and the plant genera ''Acacia'' and ''Bacopa''. ''Neotropical'' is a zoogeogra ...

: * '' Nymphoides indica'' (L.) Kuntze Africa: * ''

Nymphoides bosseri ''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 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 ''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 * ''

Nymphoides guineensis ''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 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 ''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 moratiana'' A.Raynal * '' Nymphoides rautaneni'' (N.E.Br.) A.Raynal * ''

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

Nymphoides cordata ''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 ...

'' (Elliott) Fernald Central and South America: * '' Nymphoides fallax'' 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 ''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.Galàn-Mera & G.Navarro * '' Nymphoides humboldtiana'' (Kunth) Kuntze * ''

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

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

'' K.T.Joseph & Sivar. * ''

Nymphoides lungtanensis ''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 ...

'' 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'' K.T.Joseph * ''

Nymphoides tonkinensis ''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) 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 ''Nymphoides crenata'', commonly known as wavy marshwort, is an aquatic perennial herb of the family Menyanthaceae endemic to Australia, found in all mainland states and the Northern Territory 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 ''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 exiliflora'' (F.Muell.) Kuntze * ''

Nymphoides furculifolia ''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 ...

'' 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 in 1810 as ''Villarsia geminata'', but was transferred to the genus ...

'' (R.Br.) Kuntze * ''

Nymphoides hydrocharioides ''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 montana ''Nymphoides montana'', commonly known as marshwort, is an aquatic plant of the family Menyanthaceae native to southeastern Australia. References {{Taxonbar, from=Q17480251 montana Montana () is a state in the Mountain West division ...

'' Aston * '' Nymphoides planosperma'' 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 ''Nymphoides spinulosperma'', commonly known as marbled marshwort, is an aquatic plant of the family Menyanthaceae Menyanthaceae is a family of aquatic and wetland plants in the order Asterales. There are approximately 60-70 species in six ge ...

'' 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)

{{Taxonbar, from=Q158196 Asterales genera