Photo courtesy of J. Madsen
| Scientific Name | Pontederia cordata L. |
| Common Name | Pickerelweed |
| Family | Pontederiaceae (Pickerelweed) |
| Class | Monocot |
| Description | Stout emergent with heart-shaped leaves growing from a swollen base, perennial from base, showy purple flower spike forming numerous seeds |
| US Distribution | Eastern North America |
| Worldwide Distribution | Temperate North and South America |
| Ecology | Shallow emergent to moist soil habitats |
| Economic Importance | Prominent in revegetation efforts |
| Ecological Importance | Hardy emergent species, good habitat for young fish, macroinvertebrates; seeds a secondary food source for wildlife |
| Notes | Considerable variation in leaf shape; this species is being micropropagated by tissue culture techniques as IFAS |