Callitriche longipedunculata

Longstock water-starwort

Family: Plantaginaceae · Type: perennial · Native

Longstock water-starwort is a California native perennial found in the northern Coast Ranges, California Freshwater, Great Valley, San Francisco Bay Area, and western Peninsular Ranges in vernal pools and shallow water habitats at elevations below 625 meters. Flowering from March to May, this aquatic plant produces tiny, inconspicuous flowers nestled among spoon-shaped leaves. Growing as a delicate, submersed or stranded aquatic plant with slender stems, it develops compact clusters of leaves that gradually narrow to thin petioles. Its leaves are small, measuring 2.8 to 5 millimeters long and 1.8 to 3.3 millimeters wide, with a distinctive spoon-like shape that helps it adapt to fluctuating water environments. The fruit is small and dark, with narrow wings extending from tip to base and peduncles ranging from 2 to 25 millimeters long.

Habitat: Becoming stranded or submersed in vernal pools

Bloom period: Mar-May

Elevation: < 625 m

Bioregions: NCoRI, CaRF, GV, SnFrB, w PR.

Data from The California Species Project — 14,000+ California species with verified data from CNPS, CDFW, USFWS, Jepson eFlora, Cal-IPC, and more.