Potamogeton foliosus
Leafy pondweed
(c) Zihao Wang, some rights reserved (CC BY), uploaded by Zihao Wang · licence
Family: Potamogetonaceae · Type: Herb · Native
Potamogeton foliosus (Leafy pondweed) is a native California herb in the Potamogetonaceae family.
Leafy pondweed is a native perennial aquatic plant found in various aquatic habitats across California. Flowering from May to September, this underwater plant produces small, inconspicuous green-brown flower spikes in compact cylindrical clusters. Growing with slender, branching stems that are slightly compressed, it spreads through delicate rhizomes and forms winter buds. Its submersed leaves are thin and linear, typically 1 to 10 centimeters long with 1 to 3 subtle veins, and attached to the stem by sheath-like stipules. The plant's fruit is olive to green-brown with a distinctive wavy, wing-like keel and slightly convex sides.
Identification and appearance
Key characters: Geographically isolated from all congeners
Habitat and range
California counties: Kern, San Bernardino, Lake, San Mateo, Ventura, Los Angeles, Plumas, San Diego, Riverside, Siskiyou, Lassen, Modoc, Marin, Tuolumne, Monterey, Humboldt, Imperial, San Luis Obispo, San Francisco, Inyo, Mono, Butte, Santa Barbara, Orange, Nevada, Contra Costa, Shasta, Sonoma, Mariposa, Santa Cruz, Calaveras, Santa Clara, Sutter, Tehama, Trinity, Tulare, Yuba, Mendocino, Stanislaus, Merced, San Joaquin, Alameda, Sierra, El Dorado
How to tell it apart
vs Persicaria: Potamogeton flowers float on water; Persicaria has terrestrial pink/white flower spikes above solid ground.; vs Stuckenia: Potamogeton flowers emerge above water on stiff stalks; Stuckenia flowers stay underwater on flexible stalks.; vs Alisma: Potamogeton has inconspicuous spike flowers; Alisma has showy white three-petaled flowers in branched clusters.; vs Ranunculus: Potamogeton has tiny greenish spike flowers; Ranunculus has bright yellow buttercup flowers with visible petals.; vs Myriophyllum: Potamogeton has broad or ribbon-like leaves; Myriophyllum has feathery, finely divided leaves like a bottlebrush.
Frequently asked questions
Is Potamogeton foliosus native to California?
Yes. Potamogeton foliosus is native to California (recorded as native).
Where in California does Potamogeton foliosus grow?
Potamogeton foliosus occurs in Kern, San Bernardino, Lake, San Mateo, Ventura, Los Angeles, Plumas, San Diego and other counties.
What plant family does Potamogeton foliosus belong to?
Potamogeton foliosus is in the Potamogetonaceae family, genus Potamogeton.
Related species
Other California species in the same genus, family, or bioregion.
Sources: Jepson eFlora · Index of California Plant Names · 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.