小杏菜

植物簡介

It is a perennial, freshwater aquatic, non-woody plant consisting of a horizontally growing underground stem (rhizome) from which many elongated runners arise. Each runner is up to 2 m long, and consists of alternate, shortly-stalked leaves, and flower clusters. Its leaves have thickly fleshy leaf blades that float on water, are almost circular, 6–40 by 3–24 cm, with broad, heart-shaped bases, and smooth margins. Its stalked flowers are faintly fragrant, and found in clusters of up to 3, each above the water. Its yellow-centered flowers have spreading lobes that are covered with long, white hair above. Its fruits are ellipsoid, 6.8–8 by 3–5 mm, and contain many lens-shaped seeds. Its round seeds are smooth, pale brown and 1.3 mm wide.