Vallisneria americana
american eelgrass, american eel-grass, watercelery, eelgrass, tapegrass, tape-grass, water-celery
With permission of LDWF Natural Heritage Program
Family
Hydrocharitaceae
Leaf Arrangement
basal (rosulate)
Leaf Margin
denticulate, serrulate
Leaf Type
simple
Leaf Shape
linear, elongate
Growth Form
submerged aquatic
Flower Color
white
Flower Petals
3
Flower Month
April - October
Height (meters)
2.0
Milky Sap
No
Armed/Unarmed
Unarmed
Origin
native
Lifespan
perennial
Wetland Class
OBL
Field Characters
Basal rosette from spreading stolons, rooted to bottom. Fresh to brackish water. Leaves are ribbon-like, 1.2 cm wide, and 3-6 dm long. 2.5 cm capsule rises to the surface on a slender spiraling stalk.
Habitat
Quiet water, lakes and beds of flowing streams, sandy soil in shallow water.