text: Potamogeton natans
  
  Potamogeton natans, commonly known as broad-leaved pondweed, floating pondweed, or floating-leaf pondweed, is an aquatic species in the genus Potamogeton native to quiet or slow-flowing freshwater habitats throughout the Holarctic Kingdom.
  
  Description
  
  It produces both floating and submersed leaves on the same plant. The floating leaves are ovate to oblong-ovate and almost always cordate at the base.  They are dark green, leathery, opaque, with translucent longitudinal veins.  They are 5 to 10 cm long, pointed at the tips, and rounded at the base.
  
  The stipules are 4 to 17 cm long.
  
  The submerged grass-like structures are called phyllodes, are actually modified leaf stalks.
  
  The stems are cylindrical, without many branches, and grow from 1 to 2 metres.
  
  The main difference between this species and other pondweeds is a discoloured flexible joint just below the top of the long leaf stalk.
  
  The flower spikes are dense, and cylindrical.  They are 5 to 10 cm long, pointed at the tip and rounded at the base.  It flowers from May to September.
  
  The fruits are 4 to 5 mm long and obovate.
  
  References
  
  External links
  
   Potamogeton natans in Flora of North America
   USDA PLANTS Profile
  
  natans
  Category:Freshwater plants
  Category:Flora of North America
  Category:Flora of Asia
  Category:Flora of Europe
  Category:Plants described in 1753