Caldesia parnassifolia (L.) Parl.

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Caldesia parnassifolia

Photo: Bart Wursten
BR

Caldesia parnassifolia

Photo: Bart Wursten
BR

Caldesia parnassifolia

Photo: Bart Wursten
BR

Caldesia parnassifolia

Photo: Bart Wursten
BR

Caldesia parnassifolia

Photo: Bart Wursten
BR

Caldesia parnassifolia

Photo: Bart Wursten
BR

Caldesia parnassifolia

Photo: Brian Rode
Ngamiland Concession 22 - Vumbura, Okavango Delta

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Species details: Click on each item to see an explanation of that item (Note: opens a new window)

Synonyms: Alisma parnassifolium L.
Alisma reniforme D. Don
Caldesia reniformis (D. Don) Makino
Damasonium parnassifolium (L.) Chaz.
Echinodorus parnassifolius (L.) Engelm.
Common names:
Frequency:
Status:
Description:
Perennial aquatic herb, up to 1.5 m tall. Rhizome poorly developed, with latex; roots up to 35 cm long. Leaves with lamina floating; petiole 0.1-1.5 m long, depending on the the depth of the water. Lamina heart-shaped to kidney-shaped, glossy, often purple-tinged, up to 12 × 10 cm, with 13-17 veins radiating from the base. Inflorescence branched, erect, emergent, up to 1.5 m tall. Flowers with greenish petals and delicate, whitish or bluish petals. Fruit with 10-15 ovoid carpels, beaked with the persistent style.
Type location:
Nepal
Notes:
Derivation of specific name:
Habitat:
Altitude range: (metres)
Flowering time:
Worldwide distribution: Widespread in tropical Africa, Madagascar, Asia, Japan, Indonesia, New Guinea and Australia.
Growth form(s): Aquatic, perennial.
Endemic status:
Red data list status:
Insects associated with this species:
Spot characters: Display spot characters for this species
Literature:

Carter, S. (1960). Alismataceae Flora of Tropical East Africa Pages 7 - 8. (Includes a picture).

Heath, A. & Heath, R. (2009). Field Guide to the Plants of Northern Botswana including the Okavango Delta Kew Publishing Page 333. as Caldesia parnassifolia (Includes a picture).

Mapaura, A. & Timberlake, J. (eds) (2004). A checklist of Zimbabwean vascular plants Southern African Botanical Diversity Network Report No. 33 Sabonet, Pretoria and Harare Page 84.

Martins, E.S. & Catarino, L. (2009). Alismataceae Flora Zambesiaca 12(2) Pages 6 - 8. (Includes a picture).

Ntore, S. & al. (2024). Checklist of the vascular plants of Burundi Page 44.

Setshogo, M.P. (2005). Preliminary checklist of the plants of Botswana. Sabonet Report no. 37. Sabonet, Pretoria and Gaborone Page 112.


Other sources of information about Caldesia parnassifolia:

Our websites:

Flora of Botswana: Caldesia parnassifolia
Flora of Malawi: Caldesia parnassifolia
Flora of Rwanda: Caldesia parnassifolia
Flora of Zambia: Caldesia parnassifolia
Flora of Zimbabwe: Caldesia parnassifolia

External websites:

African Plants: A Photo Guide (Senckenberg): Caldesia parnassifolia
African Plant Database: Caldesia parnassifolia
BHL (Biodiversity Heritage Library): Caldesia parnassifolia
EOL (Encyclopedia of Life): Caldesia parnassifolia
GBIF (Global Biodiversity Information Facility): Caldesia parnassifolia
Google: Web - Images - Scholar
iNaturalist: Caldesia parnassifolia
IPNI (International Plant Names Index): Caldesia parnassifolia
JSTOR Plant Science: Caldesia parnassifolia
Mansfeld World Database of Agricultural and Horticultural Crops: Caldesia parnassifolia
Plants of the World Online: Caldesia parnassifolia
Tropicos: Caldesia parnassifolia
Wikipedia: Caldesia parnassifolia


Copyright: The Burundi flora team, 2024-25

The Burundi flora team (2025). Flora of Burundi: Species information: Caldesia parnassifolia.
https://www.burundiflora.com/speciesdata/species.php?species_id=103210, retrieved 2 November 2025

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