Scientific Family
Potamogetonaceae
Other common names
curly-leaved pondweed
Plant type
Forbs and Subshrubs
Origin
Native
Lifecycle
Perennial
Height
12 to 40 inches wide
Riparian
Yes
Submersed aquatic; stems flattened, sparingly branched, jointed; leaves narrow, submerged, wavy-margined, arranged spirally; flowers small, dense, stalks terminal, emergent from water, usually; plant decays after flowering and fruiting.
Perennial aquatic forb; stems jointed; leaves wavy-margined, submerged, somewhat narrow, partially clasping; plants decay after flowering and forming turions (small shoots), turions remain and start to grow in fall, winter, overwinter as small plants.
Habitat
Found in quiet water of lakes, ponds, rivers, and irrigation ditches.
Plant Community
Riparian
Low elevation
3000
High elevation
4600
Flower Characteristics
Small, dense, cylindrical spike of greenish, tiny flowers, upright and emergent from the water, 1/4 to 1/2 inch long; usually on a terminal stalk, 1 to 2 inches long; tepals 4; stamens 4; anthers 2-chambered; 4 edge-to-edge sepal-like outgrowths.
Flower color
Greenish
Flower shape
Regular
Tubular
No
First bloom month
July
Last bloom month
September
Flower clusters
Elongated
Leaf and Stem Characteristics
Stems compressed, branched; leaves narrow, stemless, all submerged, half-clasping, 1 to 2 inches long, wavy-margined, more or less arranged spirally, translucent, 3 to 5-veined, finely and irregularly toothed; stipules free from leaf blade, brownish.
Leaf type
Simple
Leaf color
Translucent
Leaf shape
Narrow
Leaf margin
Smooth
Leaves clasp
Yes
Leaf hairs
None
Spines
No
Fruit and Seed Characteristics
Stemless drupe (fleshy, fruit, splits at maturity, stony inner layer surrounding usually a single seed), reddish to reddish-brown, to 1/8 inch long, round, ridged, with an upright, narrow, elongated tip, 1/16 to 1/8 inch long.
Fruit type
Berry-like
Fruit color
Reddish to reddish-brown