Ottelia exserta (Ridl.) Dandy

exserta: projecting, protruding

Aquatic herb, 20-50 cm high. Leaves submerged when young, floating or even erect above the surface of the water, more or less broadly ovate, 3.5-13.5 cm long, 1.5-2.5 times longer than wide, leathery with 5-7 prominent longitudinal veins; margin entire and smooth; petiole distinct, 9-45 cm long, triangular in cross-section. Inflorescences unisexual on different plants, rarely on the same plant. Male inflorescences with peduncle 6-47 cm long, spathes ovoid, oblong or lanceolate, 3.5-7.5 cm long, flattened, often 2-winged. Flowers 6-40 per spathe, 1-4 opening at the same time, pedicels exserted c. 4 cm above the spathe; sepals lanceolate, 8-12(-21) mm long, with darker veins and tips; petals obovate, white with cream or yellowish base. Female inflorescences with peduncle 16-20.5 cm long, spathes narrowly ovoid, 3-6 cm long, unwinged, grooved with c. 10 darker longitudinal stripes, smooth or with very small prickles. Flowers 1 per spathe, exserted 6-17 cm above the spathe; sepals oblong-lanceolate, 8-16(-23) mm long; petals obovate, white with yellowish base. Fruit spindle-shaped, 2.5-4 cm long.

Locally common

Angola, Namibia (Caprivi), Somalia, Kenya, Tanzania, Malawi, Mozambique, Zambia, Zimbabwe and South Africa.