Najas marina

Holly-leaved water-nymph, Holly-Leaved Water-Nymph

Family: Hydrocharitaceae · Type: annual · Native

Holly-leaved water-nymph is a California native annual found in northern Coast Ranges, southern Sierra Nevada foothills, central Coast, southern Coast Ranges, southern California, San Bernardino Mountains, Peninsular Ranges, and deserts in ponds, lakes, marshes, and rivers at elevations below 1,000 meters. Flowering from July to August, this aquatic plant produces small flowers with delicate stamens and stigmas. Growing submerged with slender stems that are generally prickled between leaf segments, it forms dense underwater clusters. Its leaves have serrated margins with 8 to 13 teeth on each side, terminating in a sharp acute tip with a single distinctive tooth. The seeds are small, ovate, and feature a pitted coat with a dull surface.

Habitat: Ponds, lakes, marshes, rivers

Bloom period: Jul-Aug

Elevation: < 1000 m

Bioregions: NCoR, s SNF, CCo, SCoR, SCo, SnBr, PR, D

California counties: San Luis Obispo, Los Angeles, Imperial, San Diego, Riverside, San Bernardino, Santa Barbara, Alameda, Inyo, Kern, Fresno, Santa Cruz, Ventura, Napa, San Benito, Monterey, Merced

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