SafePlants

Nymphoides aquatica - Banana Plant, Big Floating Heart

Nymphoides aquatica, commonly known as the Banana Plant, Banana Lily, Big Floating Heart, or Brain Plant, is an intriguing aquatic plant favored by aquarists for its ease of care and unique appearance.

Considerations for Pets and Children

• This plant has floating leaves, but its rhizome is in the mud.
• The plant has banana-shaped roots.

Taxonomy and Nomenclature

• Scientific Name: Nymphoides aquatica
• Family: Menyanthaceae (Buckbean Family)
• Common Names: Banana Plant, Banana Lily, Big Floating Heart, Brain Plant, Heart Water Lilly, Underwater Banana Plant, Fairy Water Lily, Aquatic Banana Plant, Freshwater Banana.
• Synonyms: Mentions of Nymphoides sp.
• Note: The provided text also mentions Nymphoides cristata and Nymphoides peltata, but these are different species and should not be considered synonyms.

Distribution and Habitat

• Native to the southeastern United States, specifically from Texas to Maryland.
• Frequently found in quiet ponds, lakes, and swamps.

Morphological Characteristics

• The Banana Plant has floating, heart-shaped leaves on long stalks.
• It features a flat-topped cluster of small, white flowers that rise just below the leaf surface.
• The plant is a Rosette Plant with banana-shaped roots that remain partially.

Ecological Role

• Crested floating heart (Nymphoides cristata) is mentioned as an invasive species that resembles the native Big Floating Heart (Nymphoides aquatica), indicating potential competition between the two species.
• Yellow Floating Heart (Nymphoides peltata) is non-native and invasive with large elephant-ear-shaped leaves.

Interactions with Other Organisms

• The presence of a large population of Yellow Floating Heart (Nymphoides peltata) is mentioned to affect fish and other organisms.