Myriophyllum quitense

Andean water-milfoil

Family: Haloragaceae · Type: perennial · Native

Andean water-milfoil is a California native perennial found in northern Sierra Nevada, eastern San Bernardino Mountains, and northern California Ranges in streams, thermal creeks, and shallow lakeshores at elevations below 2,000 meters. Flowering from July to September, this aquatic plant produces small flowers in simple to branched spikes emerging from the water. Growing to over one meter long with strong white rhizomes and dark gray stems when dry, it spreads extensively in aquatic environments. Its distinctive leaves grow in whorls of 4 to 5, featuring intricate comb-like structures with 8 to 20 thread-like segments that create a delicate, feathery appearance. The plant produces emergent spikes 4 to 8 centimeters long with triangular bracts and produces both male and female flowers on the same plant.

Habitat: Uncommon. In streams, thermal creeks, shallow water along lakeshores with strong wave action

Bloom period: Jul-Sep

Elevation: < 2000 m

Bioregions: CaRH, n SNH, e SnBr

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