Callitriche sp.
Water-starwort, Water-Starwort
Family: Plantaginaceae · Type: Perennial · Variable; species dependent
Callitriche sp. (Water-starwort) is a non-native California perennial in the Plantaginaceae family.
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 sp. native to California?
No. Callitriche sp. is not native to California (recorded as variable; species dependent).
What plant family does Callitriche sp. belong to?
Callitriche sp. is in the Plantaginaceae family, genus Callitriche.
Related species
Other California species in the same genus, family, or bioregion.
- Callitriche stagnalis — Pond water starwort
- Callitriche trochlearis — Effluent water starwort
- Callitriche fassettii — Fassett's water starwort
- Callitriche heterophylla — Varied leaved water starwort
- Callitriche heterophylla var. bolanderi — Bolander's water starwort
- Callitriche heterophylla var. heterophylla — Varied leaved water starwort
- Collinsia antonina — San antonio collinsia
- Collinsia bartsiifolia — White blue eyed mary
Sources: Jepson eFlora · CalPhotos
Last updated 2026-04-14
Data from The California Species Project — 14,000+ California species with verified data from CNPS, CDFW, USFWS, Cal-IPC, and more.