General:
Perennial, aquatic herb from fine, tufted roots; stems up to 100 cm long, extensively branched.

Leaves:
All submersed, linear, the sides parallel, thin, green, 1-9 cm long, 0.3-2.5 mm wide, usually with 3 veins, unstalked, the tips pointed, the stipules 0.5-1 cm long, delicate, not fibrous, greenish or brownish, the margins fused towards the bases, the veins evident as ridges running the entire length, the glands either lacking or poorly developed.

Flowers:
Inflorescence spikelike, the spikes 0.5-1.5 cm long, with 2 to 5 whorls of flowers, the stalks thin; bases of winter buds soft, smooth.

Fruits:
Achenes, egg-shaped, 1.5-2.5 mm long, 1.2-2 mm wide, widest in the middle, the beaks short stubby, the keels strongly developed, winged.

Source:  The Illustrated Flora of British Columbia

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

Synonyms and Alternate Names:
Potamogeton foliosus var. foliosus Raf. [superfluous autonym]