common hornwort (coon's tail; coontail)
Ceratophyllaceae (Hornwort family)
Introduction to Vascular Plants
Species Information
General:
Aquatic herb, usually without roots; stems freely branching, 0.3-4.0 m long.
Leaves:
Stem leaves submerged, in whorls of 5-12, 2-3 times forked into linear or threadlike segments, these often stout, stiff and spiny-toothed.
Flowers:
Inflorescence of solitary, minute, axillary flowers; petals lacking; sepals 3-15, sometimes petal-like; stamens 12-16.
Fruits:
Achenes usually lacking, if present then much flattened, 4-6 mm long, ellipsoid, wingless with a persistent style and 2 basal spines.
Illustration
If more than one illustration is available for a species (e.g., separate illustrations were provided for two subspecies) then links to the separate images will be provided below. Note that individual subspecies or varietal illustrations are not always available.
Illustration Source: The Illustrated Flora of British Columbia
USDA Species Characteristics
Flower Colour:
Blue
Blooming Period:
Summer
Fruit/Seed characteristics:
Colour: White
Present from Summer to Fall
Source: The USDA
Ecology
The table below shows the species-specific information calculated from
original data (BEC database) provided by the BC Ministry of Forests and Range.
(Updated August, 2013)
| Site Information |
Value / Class |
||
|
Avg |
Min |
Max |
|
| Elevation
(metres) |
1067 | 840 | 1118 |
| Slope
Gradient (%) |
0 | 0 | 1 |
|
Aspect (degrees) |
300 | 301 | 301 |
| Soil
Moisture Regime (SMR) [0 - very xeric; 4 - mesic; 8 - hydric] |
7 | 7 | 8 |
| Modal
Nutrient Regime
Class |
B | ||
| #
of field plots species was recorded in: |
14 | ||
| Modal
BEC Zone Class |
SBPS | ||
|
All BEC Zones (# of stations/zone) species was recorded in |
CDF(3), CWH(2), ICH(1), IDF(1), SBPS(7) | ||
|
Source:
Klinkenberg 2013
|
|||
Habitat and Range
Ponds, lakes and slow-moving streams in the lowland, steppe and montane zones; common in S BC, less frequent northwards; N to AK, YT and NT, E to PQ, NS and NB and S to FL, TX, CA and MX.Status Information
Synonyms
Synonyms and Alternate Names:
Ceratophyllum apiculatum Cham.
Ceratophyllum demersum var. apiculatum (Cham.) Asch.
Ceratophyllum demersum var. apiculatum (Cham.) Garcke
Taxonomic Keys
TAXONOMIC KEY TO CERATOPHYLLUM
1. Fruits wing-margined, with several lateral spines; leaf divisions fine, threadlike, sometimes with fine teeth C. echinatum 1. Fruits wingless, with only two basal spines; leaf divisions stout, stiff, with distinct teeth C. demersum |