Callitriche palustris L.
spring water-starwort (vernal water-starwort)
Plantaginaceae (Mare's-tail family)
(Previously in Callitrichaceae)
Introduction to Vascular Plants
spring water-starwort (vernal water-starwort)
Plantaginaceae (Mare's-tail family)
(Previously in Callitrichaceae)
Introduction to Vascular Plants
Species Information
General:
Aquatic or semi-aquatic perennial rooting in the mud; stems slender, 5-20 cm long, submerged, partially floating or stranded on mud, leaf bases joined by small, winged ridges.
Leaves:
All opposite; submerged leaves linear, 5-20 mm long, thin, single-nerved, narrowly margined, terminally notched, veins thickened but not protruding; floating and emergent leaves broadly spoon-shaped, 3-nerved.
Flowers:
Inflorescence of tiny, conspicuous flowers borne with bracts; female flowers stalkless or shortly-stalked; styles ascending.
Fruits:
Achene-like, 4, each 1-seeded, slightly wing-margined above, with regular vertical lines of small pitlike markings. vol2_5
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:
Green
Blooming Period:
Spring
Fruit/Seed characteristics:
Colour: Green
Present from Summer to Fall
Source: The USDA
Ecology
Ecological Framework for Callitriche palustris
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)
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) |
1900 | 1900 | 1900 |
| Slope
Gradient (%) |
1 | 0 | 2 |
|
Aspect (degrees) |
100 | 100 | 100 |
| Soil
Moisture Regime (SMR) [0 - very xeric; 4 - mesic; 8 - hydric] |
8 | 8 | 8 |
| Modal
Nutrient Regime
Class |
C | ||
| #
of field plots species was recorded in: |
2 | ||
| Modal
BEC Zone Class |
ESSF | ||
|
All BEC Zones (# of stations/zone) species was recorded in |
ESSF(1), SBS(1) | ||
|
Source:
Klinkenberg 2013
|
|||
Habitat and Range
Slow-moving streams and shorelines in the lowland, steppe and montane zones; frequent in S BC; circumboreal, N to AK, YT and NT, E to NF and S to NE, VA, NM and CA; Eurasia.Status Information
Synonyms
Synonyms and Alternate Names:
Callitriche palustris var. verna (L.) Fenley ex Jeps.
Callitriche verna L.