Callitriche marginata
Encyclopedia
Callitriche marginata is a species of aquatic plant
known by the common name winged water starwort.
It is native to the west coast of North America from British Columbia
to Baja California
, where it grows in and around vernal pool
s. It is secure in the southern part of its range but is rare in Oregon
, unknown in Washington, and known from only eight occurrences in British Columbia. It forms a floating mat of tiny leaf rosettes attached by long, hairlike stems to its roots in the mud substrate. The stems, each up to about 10 centimeters long, form a tangle when the plant grows outside of the water. The inflorescence
sometimes has two inflated whitish bract
s alongside the flower. The seeds remain dormant in the soil during the dry season.
Aquatic plant
Aquatic plants are plants that have adapted to living in aquatic environments. They are also referred to as hydrophytes or aquatic macrophytes. These plants require special adaptations for living submerged in water, or at the water's surface. Aquatic plants can only grow in water or in soil that is...
known by the common name winged water starwort.
It is native to the west coast of North America from British Columbia
British Columbia
British Columbia is the westernmost of Canada's provinces and is known for its natural beauty, as reflected in its Latin motto, Splendor sine occasu . Its name was chosen by Queen Victoria in 1858...
to Baja California
Baja California
Baja California officially Estado Libre y Soberano de Baja California is one of the 31 states which, with the Federal District, comprise the 32 Federal Entities of Mexico. It is both the northernmost and westernmost state of Mexico. Before becoming a state in 1953, the area was known as the North...
, where it grows in and around vernal pool
Vernal pool
Vernal pools, also called vernal ponds or ephemeral pools, are temporary pools of water. They are usually devoid of fish, and thus allow the safe development of natal amphibian and insect species...
s. It is secure in the southern part of its range but is rare in Oregon
Oregon
Oregon is a state in the Pacific Northwest region of the United States. It is located on the Pacific coast, with Washington to the north, California to the south, Nevada on the southeast and Idaho to the east. The Columbia and Snake rivers delineate much of Oregon's northern and eastern...
, unknown in Washington, and known from only eight occurrences in British Columbia. It forms a floating mat of tiny leaf rosettes attached by long, hairlike stems to its roots in the mud substrate. The stems, each up to about 10 centimeters long, form a tangle when the plant grows outside of the water. The inflorescence
Inflorescence
An inflorescence is a group or cluster of flowers arranged on a stem that is composed of a main branch or a complicated arrangement of branches. Strictly, it is the part of the shoot of seed plants where flowers are formed and which is accordingly modified...
sometimes has two inflated whitish bract
Bract
In botany, a bract is a modified or specialized leaf, especially one associated with a reproductive structure such as a flower, inflorescence axis, or cone scale. Bracts are often different from foliage leaves. They may be smaller, larger, or of a different color, shape, or texture...
s alongside the flower. The seeds remain dormant in the soil during the dry season.