Zannichellia palustris L.
Zannichelliaceae (Horned Pondweed Family)NativeHorned Pondweed |
May Photo
Plant Characteristics:
Perennial slender, branching aquatic herb with creeping rhizome; stems
submersed, filiform, sparsely branched, 3-10 dm. long; lvs. opposite, submersed,
filiform, entire, flat, 1-nerved, 2-10 cm. long, acute, with sheathing
membranous stipules; fls. sessile, unisexual, in bud surrounded by a spathe;
staminate fls. consisting of 1 stamen, the filament slender, bearing a 2-celled
anther; pistillate fls. consisting of 1 stamen, the filament slender, bearing a
2-celled anther; pistillate fls. 4 (2-6); style short; stigma peltate; fruit an
obliquely oblong, flattened, beaked nutlet, pedicelled, 2-4 mm. long, dentate on
the back, the flask-shaped beak 0.8-1.5 mm. long; seed orthotropous, the
cotyledon coiled.
Habitat:
Common, especially in brackish and subsaline habitats, ponds, streams,
and ditches; throughout California; cosmopolitan.
March-Nov.
Name:
Zannichellia, after G.G. Zannichelli, 1662-1729, Italian
botanist. (Munz, Flora So.
Calif. 1013). Palustris,
marsh-loving. (Bailey 19).
General:
Found only in the creek at 23rd St. but I cannot say it is rare, as I
have not investigated other fresh water habitats thoroughly enough to know the
frequency of the plant in the study area. (my
comment). For a species so widespread, Zannichellia
palustris is amazingly uniform. (Mason
89). About
6 genera, widely distributed, in fresh, brackish or salt water.
(Munz, Flora So. Calif. 1013).
Text Ref:
Hickman, Ed. 1310; Mason 89; Munz, Flora So. Calif. 1013; Roberts
49.
Photo Ref:
April-May 91 # 35.
Identity: by John Johnson.
Computer Ref: Plant Data 393.
Have plant specimen.
Last edit 7/18/03.