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Family: Menyanthaceae
Genus:
Species:
Common Names: Floating hearts
Parts Used: roots, inner stem
| PLANT DESCRIPTION | Documented Properties
& Actions: | Rhizomes are bitter,
Nymphoides indica has white flowers with yellow centres. The petals have unusual, feathery edges. The flowers are formed above the floating leaves with 20-40 mm long stalks from about October until May. It gets its common name, of floating hearts because of the heart-shaped, bright green leaves which lie on the water surface like those of water lilies (Nymphaea species). Although they bear some resemblance to water lilies, they are not related. New plants are formed all the time where the floating stolons (above-ground, modified stems) form tufted plantlets along their lengths. The mother plant has a short, thick stem which is rooted in the mud at the bottom of the pond. In its natural habitat the plant may be subject to periods where the water may dry up, in this case it forms roots at the nodes to help it survive.
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Distribution:
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Nymphoides indica is found in tropical areas all over the world. It is be found in pools, pans, marshes and rivers locally and throughout southern Africa. Other areas where it occurs naturally include Australia, tropical Africa, New Zealand, India and Asia.
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Growing them:
"N. indica may be planted in the soil at the bottom of a pond in about 30-40 cm of water, although it is fairly tolerant of fluctuating water levels. This plant will naturally spread on its own. However, one can also divide it by cutting the stolons between the tufts and removing the plantlets to the new pond or allowing them to root in soil if not already rooted. Propagation can also be done by seed, although division is by far the easiest method. The plants may need thinning out from time to time as they can eventually cover the pond. It looks best in a pond where it is in combination with true water lilies and perhaps a spike-leaved accent plant.
BIBLIOGRAPHY
Heywood, V.H. 1978. Flowering plants of the World. Oxford University Press, London.
Joffe, P. 1993. The gardener's guide to South African plants. Tafelberg, Cape Town.
Mackinder, B. 1990. Flora zambeziaca 7:4: 51-56pp.
Pienaar, K. 1991. Gardening with indigenous plants. Struik, Timmins, Cape Town.
Pooley, E. 1998. A field guide to wild flowers of KwaZulu-Natal and the eastern region. Natal Flora Publications Trust, Durban. Alice Aubrey and Mhlonishwa D Dlamini 2003 Witwatersrand National Botanical Gardens
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