Philydrum

Scientific name

Philydrum Banks & Sol. ex Gaertn.

Common names

frogsmouth

Family

Philydraceae

Similar genera

Lachnanthes, Lachnocaulon, Triglochin, Xyris

Native distribution

southeast Asia to Australia

Species cultivated

Philydrum lanuginosum Banks & Sol. ex Gaertn.

Adventive distribution

none

Weed status

not weedy

Habit

emergent emergent:
(adj) (syn. emersed) with parts raised out of the water; extending up out of the water
rosette plant

Brief description

Perennial. Rhizomerhizome:
(n) an underground stem, usually growing horizontally, from which both roots and shoots emerge directly; the thick, above-ground stem of ferns
stout. Leaves in compact basalbasal:
(adj) at or pertaining to the base, or point of attachment
cluster (appearing as a rosetterosette:
(n) a radiating cluster of leaves, usually close to the ground at the base of a plant
), alternatealternate:
(adj) (of leaves) bearing one leaf per node; placed singly on the stem at different heights
, distichousdistichous:
(adj) (of leaves or flowers) distinctly arranged in two ranks along an axis; leaves may be opposite or alternate
, fleshy, linear, sessilesessile:
(adj) attached directly, without a stalk
, sheathed at base, venationvenation:
(n) the arrangement of veins in a leaf
with numerous parallel veins; marginmargin:
(n) edge; rim
entireentire:
(adj) having a continuous margin that is not toothed or lobed
; upper leaves becoming bracts. Flowers bisexualbisexual:
(adj) having both male and female sexual reproductive structures on one individual or in one flower
, zygomorphiczygomorphic:
(adj) bilaterally symmetrical; symmetrical along only one plane
, sessilesessile:
(adj) attached directly, without a stalk
, solitary in axils of spathe-like bracts; perianthperianth:
(n) collective term for the calyx and corolla of a flower; also used for floral whorl(s) in which the calyx and corolla cannot be resolved; any of the leaves or bracts surrounding the sex organs of bryophytes
segments 4, in 2 dissimilar whorls of 2, yellow. Dispersal by seed.

Natural habitat

shallow water in swamps, streams, and rivers

Additional comments

Philydrum lanuginosum, the sole species in the genus, is common along natural water courses and on floodplains. This species is occasionally found in rice fields but is not considered weedy. Philydrum is sometimes used in ornamental ponds.