Citation: R. Br., Prod. Fl. Nov. Holl. 345 (1810).

Synonymy: Not Applicable

Common name: Water nymph, Australian naiad.

Description:
Main stems erect to c. 45 cm long; leaves narrowly linear, usually 2-4 cm long, finely toothed on the margins; leaf sheath with auricles and with 2 minute sheath-scales in its axil.

Flowers axillary, solitary or 2 or 3 together, monoecious; male flower of 1 anther tightly clasped by a 2-lobed perianth; and an almost closed spathe; female flower without a perianth or spathe.

Fruiting carpel c. 3-4 mm long.

Published illustration: Sainty & Jacobs (1981) Waterplants of New South Wales, pp. 318, 319.

Distribution:  Occurs usually in fresh water. S.Aust.: NL, MU.   All mainland States.   Malaysia and New Caledonia. Conservation status: native Flowering time: are usually produced between Jan. and March.

SA Distribution Map based on current data relating to specimens held in the State Herbarium of South Australia

Biology: No text

Taxonomic notes: J. Black (1943) recorded N. major All. as well and Eichler (1965) corrected the name to N. marina L. However, H. I. Aston (1973) does not report this species for S.Aust. N. marina is dioecious, with large spines on the thicker leaves and lacking the leaf sheath auricles. There is no material of N. marina in the State Herbarium. J. Black (1943) reported N. major from the Murray River where N. tenuifolia has been collected. It is, therefore, uncertain whether N. marina occurs in S. Aust.

Author: Not yet available