Slender naiad
Najas flexilis · Aquatic plants
Out of the water · Photo: Étienne Lacroix-Carignan / CC0
Also called Bushy pondweed, Nodding waternymph, Wavy waternymph
How to identify Slender naiad
- Very narrow, opposite leaves with tiny teeth seen only with a lens
- Leaf bases widen into small sheaths
- Slender, branching stems with a bushy look
- Annual that returns from seed each year
Similar plants
Southern naiad has darker, more crowded leaves with coarser teeth, and horned pondweed has curved fruits and no leaf teeth.
Growth profile
| Growing season | Seeds sprout in late spring as water warms, growth peaks in July and August, and plants die back in fall after setting seed. |
|---|---|
| Starts growing | About 55 to 60 F water |
| Light | Grows in clear to moderately clear water; can grow fairly deep |
| Depth | 1 to 15 feet, occasionally to 20 feet |
| How it spreads | Seeds |
| Habitat | Lakes and ponds with sandy or silty bottoms, often in clear, hard water. |
Why it matters in a lake
An annual that depends entirely on seed, so abundance can vary from year to year. Its seeds and foliage are an important waterfowl food.
Where it is found
- Idaho: Common
- Oregon: Common
- Wyoming: Rare
Classification
| Kingdom | Plantae |
|---|---|
| Phylum | Tracheophyta |
| Class | Magnoliopsida |
| Order | Alismatales |
| Family | Hydrocharitaceae |
| Scientific name | Najas flexilis |
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Coontail
Elodea
Sago pondweed
Leafy pondweed
Common bladderwort
White water buttercup
Horned pondweedNeed a hand?
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