Aquatic; linear leaves appear to be whorled about the stem; fruits on small stems in leaf whorls; fruits have horn-like appendages on margins.
Submerged aquatic plant of ponds and slow streams; sparsely branched stems; flat, filiform, 1-nerved leaves; male and female flowers in the same leaf axils enclosed by a sheath while in bud.
Habitat
Brackish or fresh waters of streams, lakes, or estuaries.
Flower Characteristics
Small, lacking sepals and petals; solitary or clustered at the leaf bases. Male and female flowers are separate in the same leaf axils.
Leaf and Stem Characteristics
Submersed thread-like leaves, smooth edged; oppositely-arranged (may appear whorled); leaf has a central vein; 1/16 to 4 inches long and less than 1/16 inch wide. Completely submersed weak stems; branched, thin, and thread-like.
Fruit and Seed Characteristics
Tiny, banana shaped; less than 1/16 inch long with a conspicuous hooked beak measuring less than 1/16 inch long and found in leaf axils.