twoheaded water-starwort
Family
CallitrachaceaeScientific Name
Callitriche heterophyllaOther Common Names:
water star-wort
Synonyms (former Scientific Names):
callitriche heterophylla var. heterophylla
Callitriche heterophylla ssp. Heterophylla
Callitriche anceps
Leaves
Submersed leaves are linear in outline and approximately 6 mm wide and to 1 inch long. The submersed leaves are much different from either the floating or emersed leaves. Floating and emersed leaves are either crowded in a rosette-type growth habit or arranged oppositely from one another. Floating and emersed leaves are approximately 1/4 to 1 inch long.
Identifying Characteristics
Annual aquatic weeds that are primarily submersed but have some floating and emersed leaves. These weeds primarily occur where there is little to no movement of water as in ditches, swamps, streams, and lakes. All parts of these plants are eaten by ducks.Annual aquatic weed that can occur with three different leaf forms: submersed, floating, and emersed. The opposite, floating leaves of this plant may resemble some other small aquatic weeds like Creeping Primrose (Ludwigia palustris), but the lack of evident flowers on water-starwort helps to distinguish this plant from almost all other aquatic weeds.
Flower Seed Head
Occur in the areas between the leaves and the stem (leaf axils). Flowers are very small and inconspicuous, with no sepals or petals.
Seed Fruit
Heart-shaped, approximately 1 mm wide, and splitting into 4 nutlets with maturity
Life Cycle
summer annual
Plant Type
Herb