Greek potamus – river, geiton – neighbour, near.
Annual or perennial aquatic herbs, mostly freshwater but a few slightly saline, with thin spreading rhizomes and brittle stems. Leaves spirally arranged (opposite below flower stalk), floating or submerged. Flower clusters in cylindrical spikes from the leaf axils. Flowers small, 3-4 mm wide. Stamens 4. Carpels each with 1 chamber, beaked. Fruit of short-beaked nutlets.
Growth is rapid and the leaves may cover the surfaces of ponds, dams and channels, the seed being spread by water birds that use them as a major food source.
90 species of which about 8 species are native to Australia and 2 species introduced.
Seed, cuttings or division.
Indicators of water pollution and important food plants for animals. P. nutans rhizomes are used for human food.
Flowers more than 2 together; fruit of stalkless nutlets.
Source: (2005). Potamogetonaceae. In: . Horticultural Flora of South-eastern Australia. Volume 5. Flowering plants. Monocotyledons. The identification of garden and cultivated plants. University of New South Wales Press.
