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Elodea canadensis - (image 1 of 3)

Taxonomy

Family: Hydrocharitaceae

Habitat

Quiet water of lakes, streams, and ditches. Moderately tolerant of habitat degradation.

Associates

Distribution

Quebec west to British Columbia, south to NC, AL, AR, and CA.

Morphology

Submerged aquatic. Leaves all cauline, flaccid, pale, relatively soft, sessile, slender, minutely and sharply serrate, 1-nerved, whorled, averaging 2 mm, the upper closely imbricate. Flowers elevated on a slender, pedicel-like hypanthium; staminate spathes over 6 mm long, separating and floating at anthesis.

Notes

Flowers July to September

Wetland indicator: Obligate

Used in introductory biology classes to demonstrate photosynthesis (oxygen production and carbon sequestration). Also useful for aquariums and water gardens.

References

Gleason, Henry A. and A. Cronquist. 1991. Manual of Vascular Plants of Northeastern United States and Adjacent Canada. Second Ed.
The New York Botanical Garden. Bronx, NY

Swink, F. and G. Wilhelm. 1994. Plants of the Chicago Region.
Indiana Academy of Science. The Morton Arboretum. Lisle, Illinois.

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