Scientific Family
Onagraceae
Synonyms
Jussiaea repens var. peploides
Other common names
yellow waterweed
Plant type
Forbs and Subshrubs
Origin
Introduced
Lifecycle
Perennial
Height
Floating stems to 1 foot
Riparian
Yes
Perennial with stems matted, floating, or creeping 4 to 12 inches long, branches ascending. This species has been used in aquariums.
Aquatic, often rooting at nodes; leaves alternate; sepals and petals typically 5, about 1/2 inch long; stamens typically 10; fruit <1/2 inch long, reflexed; seeds embedded in woody inner fruit wall; flower bracts triangular.
Habitat
Found in marshy to moist soils, ponds and swamps.
Plant Community
Riparian
Low elevation
3000
High elevation
7000
Flower Characteristics
Solitary, on long or short stems between leaf and stem (axils) and stemmed (pedicellate), sepals 5 and 1/8 to 1/2 inch, petals 5 roundish and 1/4 to 1 inch long, 10 stamens in 2 unequal sets. Pistil (style) simple, pollen collector (stigma) head-shaped.
Flower color
Yellow
Flower shape
Regular
Tubular
No
First bloom month
May
Last bloom month
October
Flower clusters
None
Leaf and Stem Characteristics
Stems matted, floating or creeping from 4 to 12 inches long, branches ascending. Freely rooting at nodes. Heavily veined leaves less than 4 inches long and 1-1/2 inches wide are narrowly round or narrowly oval, spreading hairy above.
Leaf type
Simple
Leaf color
Dark green
Leaf shape
Round or oval
Leaf margin
Smooth
Leaves clasp
No
Leaf hairs
Leaves
Spines
No
Fruit and Seed Characteristics
Reflexed (bent downward) cylindrical to club-shaped capsule, to 16 inches long, usually 5-celled.
Fruit type
Capsule
Seeds in 1 row in each cell.