Elatine heterandra
Mosquito waterwort
Family: Elatinaceae · Type: Herb · Native
Elatine heterandra (Mosquito waterwort) is a native California herb in the Elatinaceae family, recognized by unique stamen number and arrangement.
Mosquito waterwort is a California native perennial found in the northern Coast Ranges and Sierra Nevada in pond edge habitats at elevations of 1,000 to 1,500 meters. Flowering from April to July, this plant produces small white flowers with three delicate petals emerging individually at each node. Growing with low-spreading decumbent stems just 2 to 5 centimeters long, it forms compact ground-hugging clusters. Its leaves are obovate to wide oblong-elliptic, with petioles approximately one-quarter the length of the blade. The fruit contains three distinct chambers, with seeds that curve slightly and feature 12 to 16 surface pits.
Identification and appearance
Key characters: 4 sympatric species; unique stamen number and arrangement
Habitat and range
Habitat: Pond edges
Elevation: 1000-1500 m
Bloom period
Elatine heterandra blooms Apr-Jul.
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 heterandra native to California?
Yes. Elatine heterandra is native to California (recorded as native).
When does Elatine heterandra bloom?
Elatine heterandra blooms Apr-Jul.
What plant family does Elatine heterandra belong to?
Elatine heterandra is in the Elatinaceae family, genus Elatine.
What habitat does Elatine heterandra grow in?
Elatine heterandra grows in Pond edges.
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.