Pond water-starwort

Callitriche stagnalis

Pond water-starwort is a lovely green plant that grows in water. It has small, star-shaped leaves that float on the surface, making it look like a little starry garden in the pond.

Habitat: Wetlands

Appearance

The Pond water-starwort has bright green, often paddle-shaped leaves that can be submerged or float in rosettes on the water surface. Its delicate stems form dense, sprawling mats, appearing lighter green than surrounding aquatic vegetation.

KingdomPlantaePhylumTracheophytaClassMagnoliopsidaOrderLamialesFamilyPlantaginaceaeGenusCallitriche

Pond water-starwort

Interesting facts

Even a small stem fragment can grow into a completely new, healthy plant!

It helps keep water clear by absorbing nutrients that algae would otherwise use!

It's sometimes called "mudwort" when it grows on muddy shores instead of in deep water!

Its incredibly tiny flowers don't even have petals, making them hard to spot!

Special abilities

Pond water-starwort can grow two different leaf forms—narrow underwater and wider on the surface—to best adapt to its watery home.

This plant can self-pollinate and produce seeds even when fully submerged, ensuring reproduction in aquatic environments.

Pond water-starwort can photosynthesize efficiently underwater, releasing oxygen that benefits other aquatic creatures.

Measurements & details

Height: 5-30 cm
Spread: 10-150 cm
Flower Size: 0.05-0.1 cm
Bloom Season: Spring to late Summer
Edible: No
Toxicity: None
Lifecycle: Perennial
Pollination Method: Self

Ecological connections

shelters

Freshwater shrimp

Gammarus pulex

Provides hiding spots from predators.

eaten by

Mallard duck

Anas platyrhynchos

Ducks may graze on the leaves and seeds.

shelters

Three-spined stickleback

Gasterosteus aculeatus

Small fish hide among its dense stems.

shelters

Common frog

Rana temporaria

Frogs use its dense mats for cover.

Traits

Flowering

Flowering plants are any plants that produce flowers as part of their reproductive cycle.

Ornamental

Ornamental plants are cultivated primarily for their aesthetic appeal, enhancing landscapes and gardens with their attractive foliage, flowers, or form.

Edible

Edible plants are those parts of a plant that are considered safe for human consumption.

Wetland

This habitat trait identifies species found in wetlands, which are areas of land saturated with water, either permanently or seasonally, including marshes, swamps, and bogs.