Callitriche heterophylla Pursh
large water-starwort (diverse-leaved water-starwort; prairie sandgrass; twoheaded water-starwort)
Plantaginaceae (Mare's-tail family)
(Previously in Callitrichaceae)
Introduction to Vascular Plants
large water-starwort (diverse-leaved water-starwort; prairie sandgrass; twoheaded water-starwort)
Plantaginaceae (Mare's-tail family)
(Previously in Callitrichaceae)
Introduction to Vascular Plants
Photograph
SUBTAXA PRESENT IN BC
Species Information
General:
Aquatic or semi-aquatic perennial rooting in mud; stems leafy, 2-40 cm long, with or without small membranous ridges between the leaf-bases.
Leaves:
All opposite; submerged leaves linear, single-veined, notched at the tip, 5-25 mm long; floating and emergent leaves broadly egg-shaped or oblanceolate, 3-veined, up to 1 cm wide.
Flowers:
Inflorescence of tiny, inconspicuous flowers borne with a pair of tiny bracts, stalkless or shortly-stalked; styles 1-5 mm long, ascending.
Fruits:
Achene-like, 4, each 1-seeded, wingless or scarcely wing-margined, rounded, egg-shaped or heart-shaped, irregularly pitted.
Notes:
Two subspecies occur in our region.
1. Fruits egg-shaped or slightly heart-shaped in outline, broadest above the middle; submersed leaves usually wider than the stem; plants long-stemmed........................ ssp. bolanderi (Hegelm.) Calder & Tayl.
1. Fruits usually more nearly round or egg-shaped in outline; submersed leaves much narrower than the flattened stem; plants short-stemmed....................... ssp. heterophylla
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 heterophylla
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) |
293 | 0 | 1158 |
| Slope
Gradient (%) |
0 | 0 | 1 |
|
Aspect (degrees) |
0 | ||
| Soil
Moisture Regime (SMR) [0 - very xeric; 4 - mesic; 8 - hydric] |
7 | 6 | 8 |
| Modal
Nutrient Regime
Class |
D | ||
| #
of field plots species was recorded in: |
5 | ||
| Modal
BEC Zone Class |
CWH | ||
|
All BEC Zones (# of stations/zone) species was recorded in |
CDF(1), CWH(3), SBPS(1) | ||
|
Source:
Klinkenberg 2013
|
|||