E-Flora BC: Electronic Atlas of the Flora of British Columbia

Phyllospadix serrulatus Rupr. ex Asch.
toothed surf-grass (Serrulated Surfgrass; toothed surfgrass)
Potamogetonaceae (Horned pondweed family)

Introduction to Vascular Plants

© Jamie Fenneman  Email the photographer   (Photo ID #7487)

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Distribution of Phyllospadix serrulatus
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Species Information

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General:
Perennial, aquatic herb from slender rhizomes; stems annual, usually unbranched, 5-40 cm long, about 2 mm wide.
Leaves:
Tufted at the rhizome nodes, flat, 5- (7-) veined, the margins toothed towards the tips, (30) 50-150 cm long, 2-4 mm wide.
Flowers:
Inflorescence of 5- to 40-cm long, stalked spikes of male and female flowers on different plants; female spikes usually 1 per stem, 1-sided, 4 (5) cm long, with 5-12 flowers; male spikes 5-6 cm long.
Fruits:
Nutlets, 3-4 mm long, the base with 2 downward projecting, hornlike lobes.
Notes:
Until the work of Phillips (1970), material of this species was included in P. scouleri.

Source: The Illustrated Flora of British Columbia

Habitat / Range

Sheltered intertidal and subtidal coastal shorelines; frequent along the coast; N to AK and S to OR.

Source: The Illustrated Flora of British Columbia

Climate

The climate type for this species, as reported in the: "British Columbia plant species codes and selected attributes. Version 6 Database" (Meidinger et al. 2008), is not evaluated, unknown or variable.

Taxonomic and Nomenclatural Links

Additional Photo Sources

General References