Spade Leaf Sword is an aquatic herb. The leaves are ovate with dordate base, up to 15 cm long with petiole to 12 cm long. Flowers are white in globose heads, with 3 sepals and 3 petals; stalks are 1 meter high. Native to America and recently introduced to the Philippines.

In my home in Manila, the thing that gives me simple joy in the morning is to see the white crepe-like flowers of the Spade Leaf Sword (Echinodorus cordifolius). The short-lived and fragile flowers last until about noon only but the other buds that cluster in long stalks will open one by one in subsequent days. Given enough water, the plant is very easy to maintain and propagate.

Flowering Spade Leaf Sword in my entrance. The name comes from the shape of the leaves.

Spade Leaf Sword are planted in tall ceramic jars that decorate the airport in Koh Samui.

When the flowers wilt and dry, leaflets and aerial roots sprout on the stalks which can be harvested for easy propagation.

Tags: , , ,