Common names: waterwort

Family: Elatinaceae

Could be confused with: Hemianthus, Rotala.

Native distribution: Cosmopolitan.

Species occasionally cultivated:
Elatine ambigua Wight (Asia)
E. gratioloides A. Cunn. (Australia, New Zealand, Fiji)
E. macropoda Guss. (Europe, Africa)
E. triandra Schkuhr (North America)

Adventive distribution: Information not available.

Weed status: Occasionally found in rice fields, but not considered weedy.

Habit: Submersed or amphibious, attached mat forming stem plant.

Brief description: Annual or perennial. Stem ascending or creeping, bearing adventitious roots at basal nodes. Leaves opposite, decussate, sessile; leaf blade ovate to oblong to linear, veins terminating at leaf margin with a small gland; margin entire. Inflorescence of small, solitary flowers borne on short axillary pedicels. Sepals 3, green; petals 3, pink-white. Dispersal by seed and stem fragments.

Natural habitat: Clear waters of lakes, rivers and streams.

Additional comments: A genus of 10-20 species with three species rarely cultivated for aquaria.