Windwolf
Crex Meadows ... Host to a Multitude of Flowers and Plants
Pickerelweed
Pontederia cordata
| Kingdom | Plantae | Plants | |
| Subkingdom | Tracheobionta | Vascular plants | |
| Superdivision | Spermatophyta | Seed plants | |
| Division | Magnoliophyta | Flowering plants | |
| Class | Liliopsida | Monocotyledons | |
| Subclass | Liliidae | ||
| Order | Liliales | ||
| Family | Pontederiaceae | Water-Hyacinth family | |
| Genus | Pontederia L. | pickerelweed | |
| Species | Pontederia cordata | pickerelweed |
Picture on left taken July 30, 2007
Wetland Indicator Status
Pontederia cordata - OBL
The Pickerelweed is common in the wetlands of Crex Meadows. The unusually dry year and the intentional draw down on Phantom Lake allowed me to walk up to the large colony of plants and photograph these plants.
The base is usually submerged with the leaves showing on the surface offering an inch or two of clearance. Pontederia plants have large mostly dark green waxy leaves.
The thick and broad leaves of the Pickerelweed offer offer hiding places for ducks and other waterfowl.
There is a species of bee (Dufourea novae-angliae) that exculsively visits Pickerelweed.
Picture on right taken July 30, 2007
The picture below shows a medium sized plant. Tipping over due to the lack of supporting waters, you can see how the plant emerges from the mud and its very thick stems and dark full leaves.
Picture below taken July 30, 2007
