Plants of South Eastern New South Wales
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Potamogeton octandrus
Pondweed
Potamogetonaceae
Shallow water of lakes and creeks, often in sand. North from the Sydney area. Rarely coastal farther south.
Aquatic perennial herb, rhizomatous, almost turf-forming. Stem cylindrical, to 3 m long. Numerous submerged and a few floating leaves. Leaves alternating along the stems, stipules more or less sheathing the bases. Floating leaves stalked, 2–4 cm long, less than 10 mm wide, 5–7-veined, leathery, tapered at the base, pointed at the tips. Submerged leaves translucent, 5–10 cm long, 2–3 mm wide, tapered at tips and bases. Flowers 3–4 mm in diameter, with 4 'petals'. Flower spikes emergent, dense, to 20 mm long, curved down at the seeding stage. Flowering: during the warmer months.
PlantNET description: http://plantnet.rbgsyd.nsw.gov.au/cgi-bin/NSWfl.pl?page=nswfl&lvl=sp&name=Potamogeton~octandrus (accessed 3 February, 2021)
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