Description: Aquatic perennials with submerged leaves and floating flowers.
Leaves mostly whorled, sessile.
Inflorescences mostly 1-flowered, spatheate. Flowers bisexual or unisexual and then plants dioecious or monoecious. Hypanthium thread-like. Perianth of 2 almost equal whorls, each with 3 membranous segments. Male flowers usually separating early and becoming free-floating; stamens 3–9. Female flowers floating; ovary 1-locular; styles 3.
Fruit capsular; seeds 1–5.
Distribution and occurrence: World: 5 species, America. Australia: 1 species (naturalized).
Text by S. W. L. Jacobs
Taxon concept:
| One species in NSW: Elodea canadensis |
|
