''Ludwigia helminthorrhiza'', known commonly as floating Ludwigia, originally known as Jussiaea natans ''Bonpl.'' or Jussiaea helminthorrhiza ''C. Martius'' is a herbaceous

perennial plant A perennial plant or simply perennial is a plant that lives more than two years. The term ('' per-'' + '' -ennial'', "through the years") is often used to differentiate a plant from shorter-lived annuals and biennials. The term is also wide ...

of the family Onagraceae. Native to south

Mexico Mexico (Spanish: México), officially the United Mexican States, is a country in the southern portion of North America. It is bordered to the north by the United States; to the south and west by the Pacific Ocean; to the southeast by Guatema ...

, Colombia and

South America South America is a continent entirely in the Western Hemisphere and mostly in the Southern Hemisphere, with a relatively small portion in the Northern Hemisphere at the northern tip of the continent. It can also be described as the sout ...

, its habitat includes wet, swampy localities.

Physiology

''Ludwigia helminthorrhiza'' grows from the water's edge into the water and along the stem and roots develops 1 - 1.2 cm long white rootlets which function as floating bodies to keep the main plant floating on the surface. At each

nodus This glossary of entomology describes terms used in the formal study of insect species by entomologists. A–C A synthetic chlorinated hydrocarbon insecticide, toxic to vertebrates. Though i ...

, the plant may develop roots, which may reach through the water to the bottom of the water. The flowers have white

petals Petals are modified leaves that surround the reproductive parts of flowers. They are often brightly colored or unusually shaped to attract pollinators. All of the petals of a flower are collectively known as the ''corolla''. Petals are usually ...

and oval to almost round shaped leaves.http://eol.org/data_objects/29629203 Encyclopedia of Life: Ludwigia helminthorrhiza

References

helminthorrhiza Flora of Mexico Flora of South America Taxa named by Aimé Bonpland {{Myrtales-stub