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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. | |||||||||
| CANADA WATERWEED | |||||||||
| LATIN NAME: Elodea canadensis | |||||||||
| WHAT DOES IT LOOK LIKE? | |||||||||
| Canada waterweed is an underwater plant that is rooted in the mud by fibrous roots. The stems are slender and can be simple or abundantly branched. The lower leaves can be opposite but the middle and upper leaves are in whorls of three. Because the leaves grow 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 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 floral tube. The fruit is a capsule that releases several, hairless seeds. | |||||||||
| WHERE DOES IT GROW? | |||||||||
| Canada waterweed grows in shallow water. | |||||||||
| WHERE IS IT FOUND IN SASKATCHEWAN? | |||||||||
| This species is found in eastern Saskatchewan in the following ecoregions: Mixed Grassland, Moist Mixed Grassland, Aspen Parkland, Boreal Transition, Mid-Boreal Lowland, Mid-Boreal Upland, and Churchill River Upland. | |||||||||
| WHY IS IT RARE? | |||||||||
| Canada waterweed is vulnerable in Saskatchewan because it is rare or uncommon. It occurs in a relatively large range in the province but local population sizes vary. No immediate threats are known for this species. | |||||||||
| HOW TO IDENTIFY CANADA WATERWEED | |||||||||
| * Are the flowers on long “stalks”? * Does this plant live in the water? * Are the middle and upper leaves whorled? * Did you find it in eastern Saskatchewan? | |||||||||
| If you answered yes to all of these questions, you may have found Canada waterweed! | |||||||||
