APONOGETONACEAE

 

Roman origin.  Aquae Aponi – healing spring; geiton – a neighbour

 

 An unigeneric family, Bentham & Hooker considered this genus under Najadaceae while others designated as Juncaginaceae.  Plants  of mostly aquatic  or marshy habitats. Roots rhizomatic or tuberous, crowned by numerous root fibres. Leaves membranous. Flowers in spike like inflorescence, unisexual or bisexual when young enclosed in a sheath. Perianth absent, when present, petaloid or spathe like. Stamens mostly six. Ovary unilocular, . Endosperm absent. It is distinguished from Potamogetonaceae, an allied family by the coloured perianth and straight embryo.