The diurnal motion of higher plants, responding to the alternation of day and night, known as nyctinastic movements or “sleep movements”, has been discussed frequently. We present the first description of the circadian rhythm of the water plantLudwigia sedoides(Humb. & Bonpl.) H.Hara of the family Onagraceae, furthermore its morphology and anatomy. Our results indicate that the plant’s movements are endogenous, although environmental factors certainly have an influence. The majority of plants with nyctinastic leaf movements have a pulvinus, as the crucial part of the plant enabling this movement. Although the basal section of theL. sedoidespetiole is not swollen, the tissue functions similarly to a pulvinus. It consists of a central conducting tissue with thick-walled cells, which is surrounded by thin-walled motor cells that can undergo visible shrinking and swelling. Thus, the tissue functionally corresponds to a pulvinus. Examinations of cellular processes, like measurements of the turgor pressure in the petiole, need to be evaluated in future studies.Supplementary InformationThe online version contains supplementary material available at 10.1007/s00114-023-01848-7.