About Hydrolea quadrivalvis Walter
Hydrolea quadrivalvis, a species of flowering plant in the family Hydroleaceae, is commonly known by the common name waterpod. This plant is native to the Southeastern United States, where it occurs in Louisiana, Mississippi, Alabama, Florida, Georgia, South Carolina, North Carolina, Virginia, and Tennessee. It also grows as an introduced species in the state of Maryland. Hydrolea quadrivalvis is a perennial herbaceous plant that reaches up to 6 decimeters in height. It produces lanceolate leaves that measure between 4 and 10 centimeters long and 10 to 25 millimeters wide. Most individuals have stout thorns located on their nodes. It is an obligate wetland plant that frequently grows in swamps and marshes. Unlike its close relatives Hydrolea uniflora and Hydrolea palustris, Hydrolea quadrivalvis has spreading, jointed hairs covering its sepals and stems.
