Water bentgrass
Catabrosa aquatica · Aquatic plants
Out of the water · Photo: Наталья Пикалова / CC BY
Also called Water whorlgrass, Brookgrass
How to identify Water bentgrass
- Soft grass with stems lying in the water and rooting
- Open head of small, purplish spikelets
- Smooth, boat tipped leaves
- Mats in shallow running water
Similar plants
Mannagrasses are taller with closed sheaths; watercress has divided leaves.
Growth profile
| Growing season | Grows from spring through fall, flowers June to August. |
|---|---|
| Starts growing | About 45 F water |
| Light | Full sun to part shade |
| Depth | Saturated soil to about 1 foot of water |
| How it spreads | Rooting stems and seeds |
| Habitat | Springs, spring fed ponds, ditches and slow streams with cold water. |
Why it matters in a lake
Typical of cold springs.
Where it is found
- Idaho: Occasional
- Oregon: Occasional
- Wyoming: Occasional
Classification
| Kingdom | Plantae |
|---|---|
| Phylum | Tracheophyta |
| Class | Magnoliopsida |
| Order | Poales |
| Family | Poaceae |
| Scientific name | Catabrosa aquatica |
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Baltic rushNeed a hand?
Is it taking over your lake?
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