Perennial submersed aquatic herb with rhizomes Stem: slender, much-branched, jointed. Inflorescence: an upright, cylindrical spike of flowers, emersed, unbranched, 1.5 - 3.5 cm long, on a terminal or axillary stalk. Flowers: greenish, tiny. Stamens four. Anthers two-chambered, with four edge-to-edge sepal-like outgrowths. Fruit: not maturing. Submersed leaves: more or less arranged spirally, stalkless, translucent. Floating leaves: (if present) more or less arranged spirally, stalked, elliptic to egg-shaped with a rounded or slightly heart-shaped base and pointed tip, leathery, firmer than submersed leaves.

Similar species: No information at this time. See parents.

Flowering: June to early September

Habitat and ecology: Very rare in the Chicago Region. Found in the shallow areas of lakes.

Occurence in the Chicago region: native

Notes: Plants in the genus Potamogeton are very important to wildlife, offering habitat and food for many aquatic animals.

Etymology: Potamogeton comes from the Greek words potamos, meaning river, and geiton, meaning neighbor, referring to the habitat of these plants.

Author: The Morton Arboretum