Potamogeton foliosus subsp. foliosus
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Family: Potamogetonaceae · Type: Herb · Native
Potamogeton foliosus subsp. foliosus is a native California herb in the Potamogetonaceae family, recognized by stipules decay completely vs. fibrous in similar species.
Pondweed is a native perennial aquatic plant found in northwestern California, high Cascade Range, Sierra Nevada, northern Sierra Nevada, Central Valley, central western California, southwestern California, Great Basin, and desert regions at elevations below 2,300 meters in ponds, lakes, and streams. Flowering from July to October, this plant produces small, inconspicuous greenish flowers in compact spherical clusters. Growing with slender stems up to 1 meter long and compressed nodes, it develops delicate, narrow leaves 1 to 10 centimeters in length and 0.3 to 2.5 millimeters wide with acute tips. Its leaves have distinctive stipules less than 2 centimeters long that decay with age, occasionally leaving behind delicate fiber-like remnants. The fruits are small, olive to green-brown, measuring 1.5 to 2.7 millimeters long with a low keel and tiny beak.
Identification and appearance
Key characters: 16 sympatric species; stipules decay completely vs. fibrous in similar species
Habitat and range
Habitat: Common. Ponds, lakes, streams
Elevation: < 2300 m
California counties: Butte, Ventura, Kern, Lake, Sierra, Modoc, Riverside, San Mateo, Santa Barbara, Monterey, San Luis Obispo, Plumas, San Diego, San Bernardino, Mono
Outside California: to Alaska, eastern Canada, Central America
Bloom period
Potamogeton foliosus subsp. foliosus blooms Jul-Oct.
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 subsp. foliosus native to California?
Yes. Potamogeton foliosus subsp. foliosus is native to California (recorded as native).
When does Potamogeton foliosus subsp. foliosus bloom?
Potamogeton foliosus subsp. foliosus blooms Jul-Oct.
Where in California does Potamogeton foliosus subsp. foliosus grow?
Potamogeton foliosus subsp. foliosus occurs in Butte, Ventura, Kern, Lake, Sierra, Modoc, Riverside, San Mateo and other counties, at elevations of < 2300 m.
What plant family does Potamogeton foliosus subsp. foliosus belong to?
Potamogeton foliosus subsp. foliosus is in the Potamogetonaceae family, genus Potamogeton.
What habitat does Potamogeton foliosus subsp. foliosus grow in?
Potamogeton foliosus subsp. foliosus grows in Common. Ponds, lakes, streams.
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.