The green links below add additional plants to the comparison table. Blue links lead to other Web sites.
enable glossary links

effluent water-starwort, water starwort, wheel fruit water-starwort

callitriche des marais, spring water-starwort, vernal water-starwort

Stem

and leaf scales present.

and leaf scales present.

Leaves

connate at base, ± parallel-sided, 5.2–9.1 × 0.1–0.9 mm, 1+-veined.

connate at base, ± linear, tapering strongly from near base or spatulate, 2.5–9 × 0.3–5 mm, 1+-veined.

Inflorescences

bracts persistent.

bracts caducous, sometimes persistent.

Pedicels

0–0.5 mm in fruit.

0–0.2 mm in fruit.

Flowers

usually 1 staminate and 1 pistillate in each axil;

styles spreading;

pollen yellow.

usually 1 staminate and 1 pistillate in 1 axil opposed by 1 pistillate;

styles erect or spreading;

pollen yellow.

Schizocarps

1–1.2 × 1.1–1.3 mm, ± as long as wide;

mericarps black, not swollen, evenly winged throughout, wings straight, 0.05–0.1 mm wide.

obovoid, usually widest distal to middle, 0.8–1.4 × 0.6–1.4 mm, longer than wide, sometimes as long as wide;

mericarps black, not swollen, not winged, winged only at apex, or winged throughout but widest at apex, wings straight, 0.03–0.1 mm wide.

2n

= 40.

= 20.

Callitriche trochlearis

Callitriche palustris

Phenology Flowering Apr–Jul. Flowering May–Oct.
Habitat Vernal and perennial pools, ditches. Fast-flowing rivers and streams, backwaters, ditches, swamps, Sphagnum bogs, lakes, ponds, springs, seepages.
Elevation 0–2000 m. (0–6600 ft.) 0–3600 m. (0–11800 ft.)
Distribution
from FNA
CA; OR
[WildflowerSearch map]
[BONAP county map]
from FNA
AK; AZ; CA; CO; CT; DE; IA; ID; IL; MA; ME; MI; MN; MT; ND; NE; NH; NJ; NM; NV; NY; OR; PA; RI; SD; TX; UT; VT; WA; WI; WY; AB; BC; MB; NB; NF; NT; NU; ON; PE; QC; SK; YT; SPM; Greenland; Mexico (Chihuahua, San Luis Potosí); Eurasia [Introduced in Australia]
[WildflowerSearch map]
[BONAP county map]
Discussion

Callitriche trochlearis occurs in northwestern and central-western California plus western Oregon.

(Discussion copyrighted by Flora of North America; reprinted with permission.)

Callitriche palustris has been included on the Composite List of Weeds maintained by the Weed Science Society of America (http://wssa.net/wssa/weed/composite-list-of-weeds/); its inclusion seems unwarranted.

(Discussion copyrighted by Flora of North America; reprinted with permission.)

Source FNA vol. 17, p. 54. FNA vol. 17, p. 53.
Parent taxa Plantaginaceae > Callitriche Plantaginaceae > Callitriche
Sibling taxa
C. brutia, C. fassettii, C. hermaphroditica, C. heterophylla, C. longipedunculata, C. marginata, C. palustris, C. pedunculosa, C. peploides, C. stagnalis, C. stenoptera, C. terrestris
C. brutia, C. fassettii, C. hermaphroditica, C. heterophylla, C. longipedunculata, C. marginata, C. pedunculosa, C. peploides, C. stagnalis, C. stenoptera, C. terrestris, C. trochlearis
Synonyms C. palustris var. stenocarpa, C. palustris var. verna, C. stenocarpa, C. verna
Name authority Fassett: Rhodora 53: 194. (1951) Linnaeus: Sp. Pl. 2: 969. (1753)
Web links