Elodea canadensis Michx.
Canadian waterweed
Hydrocharitaceae (Tape-grass family)
Introduction to Vascular Plants
Canadian waterweed
Hydrocharitaceae (Tape-grass family)
Introduction to Vascular Plants
Species Information
General:
Perennial aquatic herb from a fibrous root; flowering stems several, branched at the nodes.
Leaves:
Stem leaves in whorls of 3 or the lowest opposite, broadly lanceolate to oblong or egg-shaped, rounded at the tips, 6-17 mm long, 1-4 mm wide, minutely sharp-toothed.
Flowers:
Inflorescence of either male or female, axillary, long-stalked, solitary flowers; petals 3, white, lanceolate, 4.5-5 mm long (male) or, 2-3 mm long (female); sepals 3, greenish, elliptic, 3.5-5 mm long (male) or 2-3 mm long (female); stamens 9.
Fruits:
Capsules, cylindric or egg-shaped, about 6 mm long; seeds several, 4-5 mm long, smooth.
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:
White
Blooming Period:
Summer
Fruit/Seed characteristics:
Colour: Yellow
Present from Summer to Fall
Source: The USDA
Ecology
Ecological Framework for Elodea canadensis
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) |
20 | 20 | 20 |
| Slope
Gradient (%) |
0 | 0 | 0 |
|
Aspect (degrees) |
0 | ||
| Soil
Moisture Regime (SMR) [0 - very xeric; 4 - mesic; 8 - hydric] |
8 | 8 | 8 |
| Modal
Nutrient Regime
Class |
D | ||
| #
of field plots species was recorded in: |
8 | ||
| Modal
BEC Zone Class |
CWH | ||
|
All BEC Zones (# of stations/zone) species was recorded in |
CDF(2), CWH(6) | ||
|
Source:
Klinkenberg 2013
|
|||
Habitat and Range
Lakes, ponds, streams and ditches in the lowland, steppe and montane zones; frequent in S BC south of 51degreeN, infrequent northward; E to PQ and NS and S to MA, PA, SC, FL, MS, TX, NM, AZ and CA.Status Information
Synonyms
Synonyms and Alternate Names:
Anacharis canadensis (Michx.) Planch.
Anacharis canadensis var. planchonii (Caspary) Victorin
Elodea brandegeeae H. St. John
Elodea ioensis Wylie
Elodea linearis (Rydb.) H. St. John
Elodea planchonii Caspary
Philotria canadensis (Michx.) Britt.
Philotria linearis Rydb.