Callitriche heterophylla
Varied leaved water starwort
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Family: Plantaginaceae · Type: Herb · Native
Callitriche heterophylla (Varied leaved water starwort) is a native California herb in the Plantaginaceae family.
Varied leaved water starwort is a California native perennial found in aquatic and riparian habitats, typically growing in scattered or extensive stands in shallow water or moist areas. Flowering time details are not specified, but this unique plant produces delicate white flowers characteristic of water starworts. Growing as a submerged or floating plant, it forms dense mats or scattered rosettes with distinctive leaf variations, including linear-oblong submersed leaves and spoon-shaped floating leaves that are often abruptly narrowed to thin petioles. Its leaves demonstrate remarkable adaptability, changing shape depending on whether the plant is underwater, floating, or growing in terrestrial conditions. When fruiting, the plant develops small subsessile fruits often with minimal or no wing structure.
Identification and appearance
Key characters: Geographically isolated species with no sympatric congeners
Habitat and range
California counties: Butte, Calaveras, Shasta, Fresno, San Bernardino, Lake, Monterey, Siskiyou, Sonoma, Amador, El Dorado, Tuolumne, Plumas, Inyo, Humboldt, Napa, Madera, Riverside, Tehama, Lassen, San Diego, San Luis Obispo, Stanislaus, Modoc, Mono, Mendocino, Nevada, Sacramento, Kern, Mariposa
How to tell it apart
vs Nasturtium: Nasturtium has bright yellow or white 4-petaled flowers; Callitriche has no petals, just tiny styles.; vs Lemna: Lemna is free-floating duckweed with no roots in substrate; Callitriche is rooted with opposite-leaved stems.; vs Ludwigia: Ludwigia has showy yellow flowers and consistent leaf shape; Callitriche lacks petals and has dimorphic leaves.; vs Soleirolia: Soleirolia is terrestrial with round leaves; Callitriche is aquatic with narrow or spoon-shaped leaves.; vs Stellaria: Stellaria has notched white petals on terrestrial plants; Callitriche lacks petals and forms aquatic rosettes.
Frequently asked questions
Is Callitriche heterophylla native to California?
Yes. Callitriche heterophylla is native to California (recorded as native).
Where in California does Callitriche heterophylla grow?
Callitriche heterophylla occurs in Butte, Calaveras, Shasta, Fresno, San Bernardino, Lake, Monterey, Siskiyou and other counties.
What plant family does Callitriche heterophylla belong to?
Callitriche heterophylla is in the Plantaginaceae family, genus Callitriche.
Related species
Other California species in the same genus, family, or bioregion.
- Callitriche heterophylla var. bolanderi — Bolander's water starwort
- Callitriche heterophylla var. heterophylla — Varied leaved water starwort
- Callitriche longipedunculata — Longstock water-starwort
- Callitriche marginata — California water starwort
- Callitriche palustris — Vernal water-starwort
- Callitriche sp. — Water-starwort
Sources: Jepson eFlora · Index of California Plant Names · CalPhotos
Last updated 2026-10-07
Data from The California Species Project — 14,000+ California species with verified data from CNPS, CDFW, USFWS, Cal-IPC, and more.