Najas sp.
(c) Игорь Васильев, some rights reserved (CC BY) · licence
Family: Hydrocharitaceae · Type: Annual · Variable; species dependent
Najas sp. is a non-native California annual in the Hydrocharitaceae family.
How to tell it apart
vs Hydrilla: Najas leaves have obvious teeth along margins; Hydrilla has spiny bumps on the leaf midrib underneath.; vs Elodea: Najas leaves are arranged opposite or in whorls of many; Elodea has 2-3 leaves at stem base, 3-7 higher up.; vs Egeria: Najas has tiny leaves under 1.5 cm; Egeria leaves are much larger (1.2-4 cm long).; vs Ottelia: Najas is completely submerged with tiny flowers; Ottelia has floating leaves and showy white flowers above water.; vs Limnobium: Najas is fully submerged with narrow toothed leaves; Limnobium has round floating leaves on spongy stalks.
Frequently asked questions
Is Najas sp. native to California?
No. Najas sp. is not native to California (recorded as variable; species dependent).
What plant family does Najas sp. belong to?
Najas sp. is in the Hydrocharitaceae family, genus Najas.
Related species
Other California species in the same genus, family, or bioregion.
- Najas flexilis — Slender water-nymph
- Najas gracillima — Thread-leaved water-nymph
- Najas graminea — Rice-field water-nymph
- Najas guadalupensis subsp. guadalupensis — Common water-nymph
- Najas marina — Holly-leaved water-nymph
- Ottelia alismoides — Duck lettuce
- Ottelia sp.
- Egeria densa — Brazilian water weed
- Egeria sp. — Brazilian waterweed
Sources: Jepson eFlora · CalPhotos
Last updated 2026-04-14
Data from The California Species Project — 14,000+ California species with verified data from CNPS, CDFW, USFWS, Cal-IPC, and more.