Distribution: Occurring on both sides of the Cascades crest in Washington; Alaska to California, east across most of North America to the Atlantic Coast.

Habitat: Shallow to deep, fresh to brackish water.

Flowers: July-September

Origin: Native

Growth Duration: Perennial

Conservation Status: Not of concern

Pollination: Water

Aquatic, herbaceous perennials from slender rhizomes, the stems filiform, up to 4 dm. long, terete, branching dichotomously for most of their length.

Leaves alternate, submersed, filiform, mostly under 1 mm. broad, up to 12 cm. long, 1-nerved, sharp-pointed; ligules fused to the base of the leaf and forming a sheath 2-3 mm. long, longer than the free upper portion.

Flowers perfect, in spikes 1-3 cm. long in 2-5 unevenly spaced whorls, on a very slender peduncle up to 10 cm. long; perianth of 4 clawed segments, each with an upturned, oval blade; stamens 4, fused with the claws; pistils 4, sessile.

Achenes obliquely obovoid, 3-3.5 mm. long, with a rounded, dorsal keel and a short, slightly curved beak.