Pontederia parviflora

A perennial aquatic plant native from Panama through northwestern Venezuela and into Brazil, Pontederia parviflora belongs to the Pontederiaceae family. It grows upright with its leaves emerging above the water. The leaves arise at the base of the plant and have long, uninflated stalks and heart-shaped to broadly oval blades. Spikelike inflorescences bear numerous white flowers with six lobes, a yellow patch, and six stamens. Long hairs cover the outer surfaces of the flower tubes. Photographed in the department of Magdalena, Colombia.