Ottelia alismoides
Duck lettuce
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Family: Hydrocharitaceae · Type: Herb · Not Native
Ottelia alismoides (Duck lettuce) is a non-native California herb in the Hydrocharitaceae family, recognized by Extirpated alien species, representing a tropical aquatic genus.
Duck lettuce is a naturalized perennial found in eastern Sacramento Valley, specifically Butte County, inhabiting ditches and rice fields at approximately 50 meters elevation. Flowering during summer to fall, this aquatic plant produces white to pale pink flowers with bright yellow anthers, creating a delicate waterside display. Growing with submersed and floating leaves 10 to 25 centimeters long, the plant displays distinctive leaf variations from elliptic underwater blades to broader ovate or heart-shaped leaves at the surface. Its leaves feature parallel, curved veins and can appear entire or slightly crisped, creating an intricate underwater and emergent profile. The plant's fruit is less than 4 centimeters long and characteristically beaked at the tip.
Identification and appearance
Key characters: Extirpated alien species, representing a tropical aquatic genus
Habitat and range
Habitat: Ditches, rice-fields
Elevation: +- 50 m.
Outside California: Louisiana, native to Africa, India, southwestern Pacific, tropical Asia, Australia
Bloom period
Ottelia alismoides blooms Summer-fall.
How to tell it apart
vs Najas: Ottelia has broad floating leaves on stalks; Najas has only narrow leaves directly on branching stems.; vs Hydrilla: Ottelia's leaves arise from the base on stalks; Hydrilla has whorled leaves attached to long branching stems.; vs Elodea: Ottelia produces floating lily-pad leaves; Elodea has only whorled narrow leaves on stems underwater.; vs Egeria: Ottelia has basal leaves on stalks; Egeria has whorled leaves growing directly on branching stems.; vs Limnobium: Ottelia lacks spongy tissue - flip leaves over and feel for Limnobium's puffy, cushion-like undersides.
Frequently asked questions
Is Ottelia alismoides native to California?
No. Ottelia alismoides is not native to California (recorded as not native).
When does Ottelia alismoides bloom?
Ottelia alismoides blooms Summer-fall.
What plant family does Ottelia alismoides belong to?
Ottelia alismoides is in the Hydrocharitaceae family, genus Ottelia.
What habitat does Ottelia alismoides grow in?
Ottelia alismoides grows in Ditches, rice-fields.
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.