Heteranthera limosa
Blue mud plantain
(c) Cricket Raspet, some rights reserved (CC BY) · licence
Family: Pontederiaceae · Type: Herb · Not Native
Heteranthera limosa (Blue mud plantain) is a non-native California herb in the Pontederiaceae family, recognized by . Key differences: habitat specificity (rice fields), emergent vs submersed habit, leaf morphology, non-native status.
Blue mud plantain is a naturalized annual found in the Sacramento Valley in rice fields at elevations below 100 meters. Flowering from July to September, this plant produces blue flowers with a perianth tube over 1.5 centimeters long. Growing as an emergent plant or on wet ground, it has distinctive stems with leaves featuring blades longer than 4 centimeters and petioles over 15 centimeters tall. Its leaves are notable for their significant length, emerging from wet ground or partially submerged environments. The plant has three stamens of two different sizes and shapes, with distinctive anthers that do not coil.
Identification and appearance
Key characters: 1 sympatric species. Key differences: habitat specificity (rice fields), emergent vs submersed habit, leaf morphology, non-native status
Habitat and range
Habitat: Uncommon. Rice fields
Elevation: < 100 m
Outside California: native to central and eastern United States, tropical America
Bloom period
Heteranthera limosa blooms Jul-Sep.
How to tell it apart
vs Eichhornia: Heteranthera has thin petioles and single flowers; Eichhornia has balloon-like leaf stalks and flower clusters.; vs Monochoria: Heteranthera has three stamens and long trumpet flowers; Monochoria has six stamens and short bell-shaped flowers.; vs Commelina: Heteranthera is aquatic with parallel-veined leaves; Commelina is terrestrial with broader net-veined leaves.; vs Pectocarya: Heteranthera is aquatic with trumpet flowers; Pectocarya is terrestrial with tiny white flowers and nutlets.; vs Viola: Heteranthera has symmetrical trumpet flowers in water; Viola has irregular spurred flowers on land.
Frequently asked questions
Is Heteranthera limosa native to California?
No. Heteranthera limosa is not native to California (recorded as not native).
When does Heteranthera limosa bloom?
Heteranthera limosa blooms Jul-Sep.
What plant family does Heteranthera limosa belong to?
Heteranthera limosa is in the Pontederiaceae family, genus Heteranthera.
What habitat does Heteranthera limosa grow in?
Heteranthera limosa grows in Uncommon. Rice fields.
Related species
Other California species in the same genus, family, or bioregion.
Sources: Jepson eFlora · CalPhotos
Last updated 2026-10-07
Data from The California Species Project — 14,000+ California species with verified data from CNPS, CDFW, USFWS, Cal-IPC, and more.