Scientific Family
Pontederiaceae
Synonyms
Heteranthera graminea, Heteranthera liebmannii, Zosterella dubia, Zosterella longituba
Other common names
water stargrass
Plant type
Forbs and Subshrubs
Origin
Native
Lifecycle
Annual or perennial
Height
To 1 foot
Riparian
Yes
Aquatic plant with narrow leaves and yellow star-shaped flowers.
Leaves linear, sessile (without a stalk), alternate. Stems slender, spreading, generally much-branched, often tangled. Flower petals yellow.
Habitat
Wetlands.
Plant Community
Riparian
Low elevation
0
High elevation
5000
Flower Characteristics
Flowers to 1 inch wide with 3 alike stamens; stalkless and borne singly in the axil of a clasping or folded bract which is in the axil of a leaf. Flowers open within two hours after dawn and wilt by dusk.
Flower color
Yellow
Flower shape
Regular
Tubular
Yes
First bloom month
July
Last bloom month
August
Flower clusters
None
Leaf and Stem Characteristics
Leaves are to 4 inches long and 3/16 inches wide and lack a midrib. Stems are limp, trailing, either submersed underwater and growing to the water surface, or emergent in shallow water or mud. Stems often root at nodes.
Leaf type
Simple
Leaf color
Green
Leaf shape
Narrow
Leaf margin
Smooth
Leaves clasp
No
Leaf hairs
None
Spines
No
Fruit and Seed Characteristics
Elongate and many-seeded.
Fruit type
Capsule