Hydrophyllum

Hydrophyllum
Hydrophyllum occidentale
Scientific classification
Kingdom:	Plantae
(unranked):	Angiosperms
(unranked):	Eudicots
(unranked):	Asterids
Order:	(unplaced)
Family:	Boraginaceae
Subfamily:	Hydrophylloideae
Genus:	Hydrophyllum L.
Species
8-9, see text

Hydrophyllum is a genus of flowering plants in the waterleaf family which includes several herbaceous perennials native to North America. They include Hydrophyllum capitatum, the dwarf waterleaf or ballhead waterleaf. Its head is made of a series of five-petaled, five-stamened purple flowers. It was used as a nutritious food source by Native American peoples.

Species

• Hydrophyllum appendiculatum Michx. -- Great Waterleaf
• Hydrophyllum brownei Kral & Bates -- Brown's Waterleaf
• Hydrophyllum canadense L. -- Blunt-leaf Waterleaf, Bluntleaf Waterleaf
• Hydrophyllum capitatum Dougl. ex Benth. -- Ballhead Waterleaf
• Hydrophyllum fendleri (Gray) Heller -- Fendler's Waterleaf
• Hydrophyllum macrophyllum Nutt. -- Largeleaf Waterleaf
• Hydrophyllum occidentale (S. Wats.) Gray -- Western Waterleaf
• Hydrophyllum tenuipes Heller -- Pacific Waterleaf
• Hydrophyllum virginianum L. -- Shawnee Salad, Shawnee-salad

References

• Tilford, G. L. Edible and Medicinal Plants of the West. ISBN 0-87842-359-1
• Jepson Manual Treatment
• USDA Plants Profile