Kingdom: Plantae
(Unranked): Angiosperms
(Unranked): Monocots
Order: Alismatales
Family: Potamogetonaceae
Genus: Potamogeton
Species: P. cheesemanii
Binomial name: Potamogeton cheesemanii
Common name: Red pondweed, Pond weed, Small-leaved Potamogeton
Potamogeton cheesemanii is a widespread common native species of perennial or annual aquatic plant. It is indigenous to New Zealand’s North, South, Stewart and Chatham Islands. It can also be found in Australia.
It is a common plant of still or slow-flowing waters where it can grow to a depth of 8 m. It is tolerant of short periods of emergence.
It has two leaf forms. It has translucent subsurface leaves which are strap-like (>10 cm long & >1.5 cm wide) and can be a dull green or a brownish colour.
The surface floating leaves (>4 cm long & >2.5 cm wide) are green or a reddish brown colour. The more sun the redder the leaves..
Flowers occur on dense spikes (2.5 cm long) that are held above the water surface at flowering, and curved below when fruiting. The fruit (achenes) are green-brown, flattened and three ridged.
For more information visit: http://nzpcn.org.nz/flora_details.aspx?ID=2225
Potamogeton cheesemanii growi9ng on a shaed pond
Potamogeton cheesemanii growing on a pond in full sun.
Closeup of leaves from the above pond.
