Distribution: Occurring along the coast and east of the Cascades crest in Washington, where saline; Alaska to California, inland throughout Canada and the United States to the Atlantic Coast.

Habitat: Coastal in saline or brackish water, inland in ponds, ditches, and lakes.

Flowers: July - August

Origin: Native

Growth Duration: Perennial

Conservation Status: Not of concern

Pollination: Water

Aquatic, submersed, herbaceous perennials, the stems filiform and branching, up to 8 dm. long.

Leaves mostly alternate, up to 12 cm. long and scarcely 0.5 mm. broad; stipules sheathing for 5-15 mm., the free tips 1-2 mm. long.

Flowers on short spikes enclosed in the sheathing leaf bases of the upper leaves, usually 2 flowers per spike; flowers naked, usually consisting of 2 stamens and 4 pistils, one stamen below and one above the pistils; peduncles greatly elongating and often coiled in fruit, becoming 3-30 cm. long.

Fruits ovoid and symmetrical to strongly asymmetrical, 1.5-3 mm. long.