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Aponogetonaceae
Cape Pondweed
Aponogeton distachyos
Purity and aquatic grace.
- Family
- Aponogetonaceae
- Genus
- Aponogeton
- Native to
- South Africa, Western Cape, Eastern Cape
- Bloom season
- Winter, Spring, Fall
- Type
- aquatic perennial
- Height
- 0.1-0.3 ft
- Sunlight
- full sun to part shade
- Soil
- submerged, muddy pond bottom
- Water
- aquatic
- Hardiness
- 8-11
- Lifespan
- perennial
Did you know
- Cape pondweed produces fragrant white flowers that float on the water surface, uniquely forked into two spikes.
- In South Africa it is called 'waterblommetjie' (little water flower) and the buds are cooked in a traditional stew of the same name.
- It is winter-growing, blooming from autumn through spring and going dormant in summer — the reverse of most aquatics.
- The flowers are vanilla-scented, unusual for an aquatic plant, and pollinated by water-borne pollen and flying insects.
- It can survive in still, slow-moving, or even mildly polluted water, making it hardy among aquatic plants.
Color meanings
0
purity
1
grace
2
aquatic beauty