Horned pondweed
Zannichellia palustris · Aquatic plants
Out of the water · Photo: Sam Turner / CC BY
Also called Common poolmat
How to identify Horned pondweed
- Threadlike leaves, mostly opposite or in small clusters
- Small curved, horn shaped fruits in clusters at the leaf bases
- Delicate stems that creep and root along the bottom
Similar plants
Sago pondweed has leaves alternate along the stem with a sheath at the base, and slender naiad has finely toothed leaves.
Growth profile
| Growing season | Starts growing early in spring, fruits in May and June, and often dies back by midsummer, overwintering as seed. |
|---|---|
| Starts growing | About 45 to 50 F water; grows early |
| Light | Tolerates turbid water |
| Depth | A few inches to 6 feet |
| How it spreads | Seeds and creeping stems |
| Habitat | Ponds, ditches, canals and stock ponds over silt or mud, in fresh to brackish or alkaline water. |
Why it matters in a lake
An early season plant that can fill shallow ponds and ditches in spring and then disappear by July. Tolerates salty and alkaline water.
Where it is found
- Idaho: Common
- Oregon: Common
- Wyoming: Common
Classification
| Kingdom | Plantae |
|---|---|
| Phylum | Tracheophyta |
| Class | Magnoliopsida |
| Order | Alismatales |
| Family | Potamogetonaceae |
| Scientific name | Zannichellia palustris |
Eurasian watermilfoil
Curly leaf pondweed
Brazilian elodea
Coontail
Elodea
Sago pondweed
Leafy pondweed
Common bladderwort
White water buttercup
Slender naiadNeed a hand?
Is it taking over your lake?
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