Water Stargrass

Heteranthera dubia

Water stargrass has grass-like leaves that lack a distinct mid-rib.

• Leaves grow alternately on freely branching stems.
• The base of each leaf wraps around the stem.

Where does water stargrass grow?

Water stargrass grows in tidal and non-tidal freshwater areas of the Bay and its tributaries, such as:

• The upper tidal Potomac River.
• The Susquehanna Flats.
• The Bush, Elk, Magothy, Middle and Sassafras rivers in Maryland.

It usually grows in sediment that is chalky or clayey but is sometimes found in streams with a gravel bottom.

How does water stargrass reproduce?

Water stargrass can reproduce sexually when:

• Tiny yellow flowers grow on thin stalks that poke above the surface of the water.
• Seeds are produced in late summer and fall.
• New plants grow in the spring.

Asexual reproduction takes place throughout the summer when stem fragments break off. Stems and broken stem tips will live through the winter in bottom sediments and grow into a new plant in the spring.

Other facts about water stargrass:

• Gets its name from its perfect, six-petal yellow flowers, which look like tiny stars floating above the water.
• Water stargrass can grow on land if it is washed ashore. The land-growing form has smaller, leathery leaves and very few branches, but still produces the plant's characteristic star-like flowers.