American wild celery
Vallisneria americana
Family Hydrocharitaceae - submerged vegetation
Distinguishing Characteristics |
Submerged vegetation; rhizome (long, usually horizontal stem from which stalks and leaves arise) horizontal, underground; roots from nodes fibrous clusters; leaves in clusters attached to rhizome; leaves long, grass- or ribbon-like, green, up to 2 cm (3/4 in) wide, up to 120 cm long (4 ft), tips pointed; female flowers tubular, on long stems; male flowers short, spade-shaped, on short stems; |
Similar Species |
Leaves are similar to those of the turtle grass Thalassia testudinum, but the tips of the turtle grass leaves are rounded. |
Habitat |
Freshwater, low saline areas of the bay, sand to silty clay substrate, about 36-48 cm (3-4 ft) water depth |
Maximum Size |
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Other Common Names |
eel grass, tape grass |
Previous Scientific Names |
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Comments |
Not a seagrass |