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Species Image Gallery (opens in a new window) |
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| THE FROG’S-BIT FAMILY | |||||||||
| All members of the frog’s-bit family are aquatic herbs. Some species in this family prefer tropical marine environments, but those found in Saskatchewan grow in freshwater habitats. These plants are usually underwater or floating. The tissue in the stems and leaves has large air spaces, allowing these structures to float. The leaves can be either opposite or whorled. The inflorescences have a bract or pair of bracts at the base. The male and female flowers are in inflorescences on separate plants. The flowers are usually quite small and appear to be long-stalked. The fruit is underwater and berry-like. | |||||||||
| TWOLEAF WATERWEED | |||||||||
| LATIN NAME: Elodea bifoliata | |||||||||
| WHAT DOES IT LOOK LIKE? | |||||||||
| Twoleaf waterweed is an underwater plant that is rooted in the mud by fibrous roots. The stems are slender and can be simple or sparingly branched. As the Latin name implies, the leaves are in opposite pairs on the stem. Because the leaves exist underwater, they tend to be limp. The male and female inflorescences are on separate plants. At the base of each inflorescence is a long, modified bract called a spathe. The spathe can be identified by the two teeth at the tip. Both the male and female flowers have white petals. The male flowers have seven to nine stamens. The female flowers have three strap-shaped organs called staminoidia, otherwise known as sterile stamens. Both flowers are on an elongated stalk-like hypanthium. The fruit is a capsule that releases several, hairy seeds. | |||||||||
| WHERE DOES IT GROW? | |||||||||
| Twoleaf waterweed is found floating in shallow water lakes, ponds, and sloughs. | |||||||||
| WHERE IS IT FOUND IN SASKATCHEWAN? | |||||||||
| This species is found in southwestern Saskatchewan in the Cypress Upland, Mixed Grassland, and Moist Mixed Grassland ecoregions. | |||||||||
| WHY IS IT RARE? | |||||||||
| Twoleaf waterweed is threatened in Saskatchewan because it is rare and somewhat regionally restricted. Local population sizes vary and possible threats have been identified. | |||||||||
| HOW TO IDENTIFY TWOLEAF WATERWEED | |||||||||
| * Are the flowers on long “stalks”? * Does this plant live in the water? * Are the leaves opposite? * Did you find it in southwestern Saskatchewan? | |||||||||
| If you answered yes to all of these questions, you may have found twoleaf waterweed! | |||||||||
