Common waterweed has tiny, narrow leaves along slender, branching stems. (Maryland Department of Natural Resources)
Common waterweed is a bay grass that grows in slow-moving fresh waters throughout the Chesapeake Bay watershed.
Appearance
The common waterweed has slender, branching stems and tiny, narrow leaves that are straight or oval-shaped and grow in whorls of three along each stem. Whorls become more crowded toward the tip of the stems. Leaves have extremely tiny teeth that may only be visible under magnification. From July through September, tiny flowers grow on long stalks from a tubular structure at the leaf axil. Common waterweed has a weak, thread-like root system.
Predators
Migratory waterfowl, especially ducks, feed on the common waterweed, as do muskrats and beavers.
Reproduction and Life Cycle
This grass usually reproduces asexually when stem fragments bud and grow into new plants. It rarely reproduces sexually because male plants are very uncommon. When sexual reproduction occurs, the plants produce cylindrical capsules that contain several seeds.
Did You Know?
- Common waterweed is also known as Canadian waterweed.
- It provides habitat for fish, amphibians and aquatic invertebrates.
- Common waterweed can be confused with hydrilla. You can distinguish common waterweed by its leaves, which grow in whorls of three and do not have visible teeth.
Sources and Additional Information
- Underwater Grasses in Chesapeake Bay & Mid-Atlantic Coastal Waters by Maryland Sea Grant
- Life in the Chesapeake Bay by Alice Jane Lippson and Robert L. Lippson
- Chesapeake Bay: Nature of the Estuary, A Field Guide by Christopher P. White
- Bay Grass Key: Common Waterweed – Maryland Department of Natural Resources
- PLANTS Database: Elodea canadensis – USDA Natural Resources Conservation Service
Quick Facts
Species
Native
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Habitat
Grows mostly in slow-moving fresh waters, but occasionally found in brackish waters. Often found in areas rich in nutrients and calcium.
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Range
Found in the upper Chesapeake Bay and freshwater streams and rivers throughout the Bay watershed.
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Status
Stable