Limnocharis flava (L.) Buchenau

Limnocharis flava (L.) Buch. Abh. Nat. Ver
Bremen 2 : 2. 1868.
Alisma flava L. Sp. PI. 343. 1753. Damasonium flavum Mill. Gard. Diet. ed. 8. 1768. Limnocharis emarginata H. & B. PI. Aequin. 1 : 116. 1807. Limnocharis Plumieri Rich. Mem. Mus. Paris 1 : 374. 1815.
A perennial aquatic or marsh plant, with short thick rootstock, large flat broad leafblades, and showy yellow flowers. Leaves basal and exceeding the' scape ; sheath compressed, keeled on the back, gradually narrowed above into the long petiole which is sharply 3-angled, the angles usually winged; blade elliptic to orbicular, sometimes cordate at the base, usually apiculate at the rounded or sometimes emarginate apex, up to 3 dm. long and 1.5 dm. wide ; scape erect, up to 4 dm. tall, angled, the angles often winged above ; umbel when mature of 7-15 flowers, the mature pedicels stout, 3-5 cm. long, 3-angled, the angles winged and often undulate toward the thickened apex ; sepals and petals broadly ovate to nearly orbicular, the former green, 12-18 mm. long, the petals thinner, longer than the sepals; fruiting carpels 12-15 mm. long, 6-8 mm. wide, semicircular; seeds 1-1.2 mm. long.
Type locality : South America.
Distribution : Cuba, Haiti, Grenada, and in continental tropical America.