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Cape Pondweed
Aponogeton distachyos
ミズスギナ
An aquatic perennial native to South Africa. Cultivated ornamentally in ponds and aquariums. It floats leaves on the water surface and produces white flowers. Naturalized occurrences have been reported in Japan.
Identification Points
- ✓Oblong floating leaves rest on the water surface
- ✓White spicate inflorescences emerge above the water (distinctive bifurcate spikes)
- ✓Aquatic plant growing in ponds, aquariums, and water margins
Habitat
Ponds, aquariums (cultivated), and water margins
Season
Spring–autumn (flowers)
Morphological TraitsAI-estimated, needs verification
Growth form
Herb
Leaf shape
Round
Habitat
Aquatic
Leaf arrangement
Alternate
Leaf type
Simple
Venation
Parallel
Petal count
3 petals
Flower symmetry
Zygomorphic
Ovary position
Superior
Plant sex
Hermaphrodite
Latex
Present
Phylogenetic Positionレースソウ科 →
Phylogenetic Position
Angiosperms > Monocots > Alismatales > Aponogetonaceae
Divergence Era
Late Cretaceous (ca. 80 million years ago)
Evolution Notes
Aponogetonaceae is an ancient monocot lineage specialized for aquatic life, with about 60 species distributed across Africa and Asia.
View on evolution timeline →Sources & References
AI-generated, needs verification