Scientific Family
Elatinaceae
Other common names
red-stem waterwort
Plant type
Forbs and Subshrubs
Origin
Native
Lifecycle
Annual
Height
Up to 6 inches
Riparian
Yes
Emergent on wet surfaces (substrates); erect to prostrate (lying flat on ground); densely mat-forming; stems often rooting at the nodes; often reddish. Species of this genus often difficult to distinguish, seeds offering the most specific characteristics.
Leaves reddish-green, can be slightly notched at tip, leaf stems erect; stipule margins toothed; flowers, 2 to 3 sepals, rarely 4, 3 to 4 petals, 3 stamens; seeds in 3 to 4 chambers, angular, oblong or cylinder-like, curved, 16 to 35 pits per row.
Habitat
Found along edges of ponds, lakes, pools or slow streams, on wet sand or muddy shores, ditches, shallow vernal pools (appearing in spring).
Plant Community
Riparian
Disturbed Areas
Low elevation
5000
High elevation
8000
Flower Characteristics
1 or 2 flowers per node of stem; broad petals, pinkish-white to reddish; 2 to 3 sepals (if 2 sepals then equal size, if 3 sepals then 1 sepal smaller); 3 stamens opposite the sepals, 3 styles emerging from ovary.
Flower color
Pinkish-white to reddish
Flower shape
Regular
Tubular
No
First bloom month
May
Last bloom month
September
Flower clusters
None
Leaf and Stem Characteristics
Stems erect or prostrate on ground; leaves opposite, simple, reddish-green, short-stalked, tips blunt to notched, 3/4 inch to 6 inches long.
Leaf type
Simple
Leaf color
Reddish-green
Leaf shape
Narrow
Leaf margin
Smooth
Leaves clasp
No
Leaf hairs
None
Spines
No
Fruit and Seed Characteristics
Capsules, 3-chambered locules (the cell of an ovary containing the seeds).
Fruit type
Capsule
10 to 20 seeds per locule; straight, slightly curved or cylindrical (long and round); pitted in longitudinal rows (along length of seed), 16 to 25 pits in each row.