Elatine ambigua
Asian waterwort
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Family: Elatinaceae · Type: Herb · Not Native
Elatine ambigua (Asian waterwort) is a non-native California herb in the Elatinaceae family, recognized by unique sepal pattern and non-native status.
Asian waterwort is a naturalized perennial found in the Central Valley (GV) bioregion in vernal pools and wet places at elevations of 10 to 100 meters. Flowering from June to August, this plant produces delicate white or pink flowers with three petals that are slightly longer than its sepals. Growing with nearly erect stems 1 to 8 centimeters tall, the plant has a compact, low-growing form. Its leaves are lanceolate to oblong-elliptic, with petals approximately one-quarter the length of the blade. The fruit develops with three chambers, and seeds are narrow-oblong and gently curved, with approximately 20 pits per row.
Identification and appearance
Key characters: 3 sympatric species; unique sepal pattern and non-native status
Habitat and range
Habitat: Vernal pools, wet places
Elevation: 10-100 m
Outside California: native to eastern and southern Asia
Bloom period
Elatine ambigua blooms Jun-Aug.
How to tell it apart
vs Bergia: Elatine is completely smooth; Bergia feels sticky with glandular hairs.; vs Fraxinus: Elatine is a tiny aquatic herb; Fraxinus is a large tree.; vs Berberis: Elatine has thin aquatic leaves; Berberis has stiff spiny leaves on a woody shrub.; vs Vancouveria: Elatine grows in water with simple leaves; Vancouveria is terrestrial with compound leaves.; vs Floerkea: Elatine has opposite leaves; Floerkea has alternate dissected leaves.
Frequently asked questions
Is Elatine ambigua native to California?
No. Elatine ambigua is not native to California (recorded as not native).
When does Elatine ambigua bloom?
Elatine ambigua blooms Jun-Aug.
What plant family does Elatine ambigua belong to?
Elatine ambigua is in the Elatinaceae family, genus Elatine.
What habitat does Elatine ambigua grow in?
Elatine ambigua grows in Vernal pools, wet places.
Related species
Other California species in the same genus, family, or bioregion.
Sources: Jepson eFlora · 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.