Potamogetonaceae

Broad-leaved pondweed

Potamogeton natans L.

Family: Potamogetonaceae
Genus: Potamogeton

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Broad-leaved pondweed (Potamogeton natans) — FlowerPhoto: Dustin Snider, CC BY 4.0, from iNaturalist

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Common names

By language (30)

Arabic: سلق الماء, جار النهر, لسان البحر
arz: ناتان بوتاموجيتون
Azerbaijani: Üzən susünbülü
Belarusian: Урэчнік плаваючы, Рдзест плаваючы
Bulgarian: Плаващ ръждавец
Catalan: Potamot Nageant
Chinese: 浮叶眼子菜, 浮葉眼子菜, 水案板
Czech: Rdest vzplývavý
Dutch: Drijvend fonteinkruid
English: Broad-leaved pondweed, Floating pondweed
Estonian: Ujuv penikeel
Finnish: Uistinvita
French: Potamot nageant
German: Schwimmendes Laichkraut, Potamot Nageant
Hungarian: Bodros békaszőlő, Úszó békaszőlő
Icelandic: Blöðkunykra
Irish: Liach Bhríde
Japanese: オヒルムシロ
Korean: 큰가래
Latvian: Peldošā glīvene
Lithuanian: Plūduriuojančioji plūdė, Potamot Nageant
Norwegian Bokmål: Vanlig tjønnaks
Norwegian Nynorsk: Tjønnaks
Polish: Rdestnica pływająca
Romanian: Broscăriță
Russian: Рдест плавающий
Slovak: Červenavec plávajúci
Swedish: Gäddnate, Potamot Nageant
Ukrainian: Рдесник плавучий
Welsh: Dyfrllys llydanddail

Synonyms

Buccaferrea natans (L.) Bubani
Potamogeton affinis Boenn. ex Cham. & Schlecht.
Potamogeton besseri Steud.
Potamogeton fluitans subsp. petiolaris (Nyman) Cif. & Giacom.
Potamogeton fluitans var. petiolatus (Wolfg.) Nyman
Potamogeton kirkii Syme
Potamogeton morongii A.Benn.
Potamogeton natans f. angustifolius Regel
Potamogeton natans f. fluviatilis (Fr.) Hagstr.
Potamogeton natans f. lancifolius (Fieber) Rchb.
Potamogeton natans f. ovalifolius (Fieber) Rchb.
Potamogeton natans f. rotundifolius (Bréb.) Hagstr.
Potamogeton natans f. terrestris (Gray) Hagstr.
Potamogeton natans f. vulgaris Rchb.
Potamogeton natans subsp. ellipticus Gaudin
Potamogeton natans subsp. explanatus (Mert. & W.D.J.Koch) K.Richt.
Potamogeton natans subsp. kirkii (Syme) Nyman
Potamogeton natans subsp. petiolaris (Nyman) Arcang.
Potamogeton natans subsp. petiolatus (Wolfg.) K.Richt.
Potamogeton natans subsp. vulgaris Gaudin
Potamogeton natans var. acaulis Wahlb.
Potamogeton natans var. angustifolius G.Mey.
Potamogeton natans var. explanatus Mert. & W.D.J.Koch
Potamogeton natans var. fluviatilis Fr.
Potamogeton natans var. intermedius Mert. & W.D.J.Koch
Potamogeton natans var. lancifolius Fieber
Potamogeton natans var. major W.D.J.Koch & Ziz
Potamogeton natans var. media W.D.J.Koch & Ziz
Potamogeton natans var. minor Hook.f.
Potamogeton natans var. ovalifolius Fieber
Potamogeton natans var. petiolaris Nyman
Potamogeton natans var. petiolatus (Wolfg.) Nyman
Potamogeton natans var. prolixus W.D.J.Koch
Potamogeton natans var. pygmaeus Gaudin
Potamogeton natans var. rotundifolius Bréb.
Potamogeton natans var. subnatans Wahlenb.
Potamogeton natans var. terrestris Gray
Potamogeton natans var. vulgaris Mert. & W.D.J.Koch
Potamogeton paludosus Bory ex Cham. & Schltdl.
Potamogeton petiolaris C.Presl

and 6 more.

Flowers

In flower: June to August (from 136 flowering iNaturalist observations worldwide)
Flower colour: green (USDA PLANTS Database)

Characteristics

Growth habit: Forb/herb
Lifespan: Perennial
In the US and Canada: Alaska: native, Canada: native, Lower 48 states: native

Photos

FlowerPhoto: Dustin Snider, CC BY 4.0, from iNaturalist
FlowerPhoto: Георгий Виноградов (Georgy Vinogradov), CC BY 4.0, from iNaturalist
FlowerPhoto: Nico Hernandez, CC BY 4.0, from iNaturalist
FlowerPhoto: Kallum McDonald, CC0, from iNaturalist
Photo: Christian Fischer, CC BY-SA 3.0, from Wikimedia Commons
Photo: Yves Bas, CC BY 4.0, from iNaturalist
Photo: Frank Vincentz, CC BY-SA 3.0, from Wikimedia Commons
Photo: Roman A. Lagazyuk (Роман А. Лагазюк), CC BY 4.0, from iNaturalist
Photo: Frank Vincentz, CC BY-SA 3.0, from Wikimedia Commons
Photo: Thomas Mesaglio, CC BY 4.0, from iNaturalist
Photo: AnRo0002, CC0, from Wikimedia Commons
Photo: Oleksandr Shynder, CC BY 4.0, from iNaturalist

More in Potamogeton

Sources: classification, synonyms from World Flora Online Plant List (2026-06, CC0 1.0); common names, popularity from Wikidata (2026-10-26, CC0 1.0); common names, US characteristics from USDA PLANTS Database (2025-05-29, CC0 1.0). About our plant data.