Howellia aquatilis

Water howellia

Family: Campanulaceae · Type: annual · Native

Conservation status: CNPS 2B.2 · Delisted

Water howellia is a rare (CNPS 2B.2) California native annual found in northern coastal ranges of California in seasonal ponds at elevations of 1,100 to 1,500 meters. Flowering from June to August, this aquatic plant produces delicate white flowers in solitary axillary arrangements with a distinctive split corolla tube. Growing with submersed or floating stems 10 to 60 centimeters long, it has an ascending to erect growth habit characteristic of aquatic environments. Its alternate leaves are linear, entire or minutely toothed, sessile along the stem and well-adapted to underwater conditions. The fruit is an ellipsoid structure 5 to 13 millimeters long that opens irregularly on its sides, containing 2 to 4 shiny, chestnut-brown seeds.

Habitat: Seasonal ponds

Bloom period: Jun-Aug

Elevation: 1100-1500 m

Bioregions: NCoRH

California counties: Mendocino

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