monochoria USDA PLANTS Symbol: MOVA
U.S. Nativity: Exotic
Habit: Aquatic Plants Forbs/Herbs
Monochoria vaginalis (Burm. f.) K. Presl ex Kunth
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Taxonomic Rank: Liliopsida: Liliales: Pontederiaceae
Synonym(s): heartshape false pickerelweed, heartshape falsepickerelweed, pickerel weed
Appearance
Monochoria vaginalis is an aquatic herbaceous plant native to temperate and tropical Asia. Plant size, leaf shape, and flower number in M. vaginalis are highly dependent on the amount of water available. It can be annual or perennial. It has a short rhizome. M. vaginalis can grow from 4-20 in. (10-50 cm) tall and is stemless.
Foliage
Two types of leaves are seen. The sessile leaves are up to 2 in. (5 cm) long. The blade is linear with an acuminate apex. Petiolate leaves are cordate with a soft hollow petiole from 3-11 in. (7-28 cm) long.
Flowers
The flowers of M. vaginalis are few to numerous in racemes 0.79-1.6 in. (2-4 cm) long. In California racemes usually bear 2-8 flowers. The peduncles emerge from the sheath of the upper-most leaf.
Fruit
Fruits are ellipsoid 3-valved capsules about 0.4 in. (1 cm) long. The numerous oblong seeds have 8-12 longitudinal ribs.
Ecological Threat
Monochoria vaginalis is listed as a Federal Noxious Weed. It has been reported in California and Hawaii. It is often seen as a weed in rice fields.
Identification, Biology, Control and Management Resources
Selected Images from Invasive.orgView All Images at Invasive.org


Seed(s); Four seeds aligned with chalaza at top and hilar region at bottom. FNW taxon.
Julia Scher, USDA APHIS PPQ, Bugwood.org
Additional Resolutions & Image Usage
Fruit(s); Fruits. FNW taxon.
Julia Scher, USDA APHIS PPQ, Bugwood.org
Additional Resolutions & Image Usage
Seed(s); Seeds ca. 1 mm long, ca. 0.6 mm wide
USDA APHIS Plant Protection and Quarantine , USDA APHIS PPQ, Bugwood.org
Additional Resolutions & Image Usage
Seed(s); Close-up of the surface of the seeds. FNW taxon.
Julia Scher, USDA APHIS PPQ, Bugwood.org
Additional Resolutions & Image Usage
EDDMapS Distribution:
This map is incomplete and is based only on current site and county level reports made by experts and records obtained from USDA Plants Database. For more information, visit www.eddmaps.org 		 


State List
This map identifies those states that list this species on their invasive species list or law.

Invasive Listing Sources: