Scientific name: Callitriche stagnalis Scop.
Common name: Common Water-starwort
Description
Habit: An aquatic or terrestial annual or perennial, variable.
Stems: Submerged, floating, creeping or terrestial.
Leaves: Opposite, undivided; all leaves oval, shortly stalked, 5-9 mm wide, but terrestial leaves smaller; upper leaves forming a floating terminal rosette.
Flowers: Small, monoecious, submerged or on water surface, without perianth, axillary; male flowers with 1 stamen, 0.5-2 mm; female flowers with 4-celled ovary.
Fruits: A group of 4 1-seeded nutlets, orbicular, 1.6-1.8 mm, as long as wide, with wing; styles erect or spreading when terrestial, not forming if submerged.
Note: fruiting material is vital for identification.
Habitat: Ponds, ditches and streams.
Distribution: Rare on the limestone, very frequent elsewhere.
Native status: Native
Of conservation interest: No