Ceratophyllum demersum

"Notes: Aquatic , Grown in Aquarium"

This is a submerged or floating aquatic plant (about ½-12' long) that branches at right angles (90°). The jointed stems are pale green to reddish purple, glabrous, and fragile, often dividing into smaller segments. Along these stems, there are whorls of 5-14 divided leaves that curve upward; these leaves are 1-4 cm. long. The leaves are more crowded toward the growing tips of stems than elsewhere; they are medium to dark green and glabrous. Both stems and leaves have a tendency to be somewhat stiff and brittle, especially when they are coated with lime in calcareous water. Each leaf divides dichotomously into 2-4 segments (rarely more); these segments are narrowly linear (up to 0.5 mm. across) and flattened. Each leaf segment is conspicuously toothed along one side, while it is smooth (entire) on the other side. Coontail is monoecious, forming male (staminate) and female (pistillate) flowers on the same plant. Both types of flowers are produced in the axils of the leaves and they are sessile. Female flowers occur individually, while male flowers occur either individually or in pairs. Both types of flowers are very small in size (about 2 mm. in length), and they have involucres consisting of 8-14 floral bracts that surround the reproductive organs. These bracts are translucent and broadly oblong; their tips are truncate and fringed. There are neither sepals nor petals. Each female flower has a single pistil with a long slender style, while each male flower has 8-14 anthers that are sessile or nearly so (very short or absent filaments). The blooming period occurs intermittently during the summer and early autumn. Cross-pollination is accomplished through water currents. However, only a few flowers, if any, are produced by individual plants. The female flowers are replaced by 3-spined achenes. The body of each mature achene is 4-6 mm. long, ovoid in shape, slightly flattened, and wingless along its sides. Each achene has 2 basal spines and a single spine at its apex; these spines are 0.5-12.0 mm. in length and they are either straight or curved. Coontail has no real root system, although it is able to anchor itself in mud or sand through either lodged stems or the development of modified leaves. By late autumn, winter turions (tight buds of leaves) develop at the tips of stems that sink to the bottom of  a body of water, where they remain until spring of the following year. Growth and development begin again with the return of warmer weather. In addition to its achenes and winter turions, Coontail reproduces vegetatively whenever its stems divide into smaller segments.

Submerged aquatic herb. Stems up to 3m long and 2 mm in diameter, longitudinally grooved. Leaves in whorls of 7-11, 8-40 mm long, filiform, forked 1-2(3) times; margin with spine-tipped teeth, particularly in the apical segments. Flowers axillary, unisexual on the same plant; male flowers in many 1-3-flowered clusters per branch; female flowers solitary, few per branch. Fruit ovoid, ellipsoid to obovoid with an apical spine and 2 prominent basal spines, and raised dark spots on the surface.

"Maharashtra: Nasik, Pune, Raigad, Thane Karnataka: Hassan, Mysore, N. Kanara Kerala: Alapuzha Tamil Nadu: Coimbatore, Dharmapuri, Kancheepuram, Thiruvallur, Tirunelveli"

"

Global Distribution

Cosmopolitan

Indian distribution

State - Kerala, District/s: Alappuzha

"

The native Coontail is occasional to common throughout Illinois. This species is native to a wide area of North America, from where it has spread to other parts of the world. Habitats include quiet inlets of lakes, ponds, rivers with slow-moving currents, marshes, and springs. Generally, Coontail is typically found in bodies of water with muddy bottoms, although it also occurs where the water bottom contains some sand or rocky material. Sometimes Coontail is cultivated as an aquarium plant. It has also been introduced deliberately into polluted bodies of water in bioremediation projects because of its ability to absorb suspended particles of chromium, lead, arsenic, and other chemicals.

Nile and Mediterranean regions, eastern desert (along Suez Canal).

Cosmopolitan.

Ceratophyllum demersum var. apiculatum (Cham.) Asch.:
Brazil (South America)

Note: This information is based on publications available through Tropicos and may not represent the entire distribution. Tropicos does not categorize distributions as native or non-native.

Ceratophyllum tuberculatum Cham.:
India (Asia)

Note: This information is based on publications available through Tropicos and may not represent the entire distribution. Tropicos does not categorize distributions as native or non-native.

Ceratophyllum chilense Leyb.:
Chile (South America)

Note: This information is based on publications available through Tropicos and may not represent the entire distribution. Tropicos does not categorize distributions as native or non-native.

Ceratophyllum oxyacanthum Cham.:
Germany (Europe)

Note: This information is based on publications available through Tropicos and may not represent the entire distribution. Tropicos does not categorize distributions as native or non-native.

Ceratophyllum demersum L.:
Botswana (Africa & Madagascar)
Canada (North America)
United States (North America)
Zimbabwe (Africa & Madagascar)
Zambia (Africa & Madagascar)
Bolivia (South America)
China (Asia)
Peru (South America)
Panama (Mesoamerica)
Mozambique (Africa & Madagascar)
Madagascar (Africa & Madagascar)
Malawi (Africa & Madagascar)
Mexico (Mesoamerica)
Honduras (Mesoamerica)
Guatemala (Mesoamerica)
Gabon (Africa & Madagascar)
Brazil (South America)
Colombia (South America)
Ecuador (South America)
Venezuela (South America)

Note: This information is based on publications available through Tropicos and may not represent the entire distribution. Tropicos does not categorize distributions as native or non-native.

Alta., B.C., Man., N.B., N.W.T., N.S., Ont., P.E.I., Que., Sask., Yukon; Ala., Alaska, Ariz., Ark., Calif., Colo., Conn., Del., D.C., Fla., Ga., Idaho, Ill., Ind., Iowa, Kans., Ky., La., Maine, Md., Mass., Mich., Minn., Miss., Mo., Mont., Nebr., Nev., N.H., N.J., N.Mex., N.Y., N.C., N.Dak., Ohio, Okla., Oreg., Pa., R.I., S.C., S.Dak., Tenn., Tex., Utah, Vt., Va., Wash., W.Va., Wis., Wyo.; worldwide.

Subcosmopolitan in temperate and tropical regions.

This species is a cosmopolitan and occurs from the Azores and Europe (Castroviejo et al. 1987, Preston and Croft 1997, Gardenfors 2010, WCSPF 2010) east through the Middle East and the Indian subcontinent to east and southeast Asia (Cook 1970). It occurs in Africa north and south of the Sahara including Madagascar, as well as Australasia and north, central and south America. It is apparently introduced in Mauritius, New Zealand and Hawaii (World Checklist of Selected Plant Families 2010). The species has been recorded along the Mekong River in Thailand, Lao PDR, Cambodia and Viet Nam.

In China (Flora of China; eFlora 2011) this species is widespread throughout the country; it has been recorded from a number of provinces (Anhui, Fujian, Guangdong, Guangxi, Guizhou, Hebei, Heilongjiang, Henan, Hubei, Hunan, Jiangsu, Jilin, Nei Mongol, Ningxia, Shaanxi, Shandong, Shanxi, Sichuan, Taiwan, Xinjiang, Xizang, Yunnan, Zhejiang), and expected to be reported from additional provinces.

Canada

Origin: Native

Regularity: Regularly occurring

Currently: Present

Confidence: Confident

United States

Origin: Native

Regularity: Regularly occurring

Currently: Present

Confidence: Confident

Type of Residency: Year-round

Polish Exclusive Economic Zone

Distribution: Cosmopolitan

Much branched, rootless, submerged, aquatic plants, 15-60 (-90) cm long. Leaves whorled, 1-4 times dichotomously branched, minutely toothed at irregular intervals, often terminated by 1 or 2 sharp bristles. Flowers minute, solitary, axillary, unisexual, male and female flowers at different nodes. Perianth segments 6-15, upto 1 mm long, connate at the base, each segment terminated by 2 bristles. Male flowers consisting of 8-30 stamens, spirally arranged on a convex receptacle, narrowed into the base, subsessile, apex terminated by two spinous incurved processes; anthers erect, 2-lobed, pollen elliptical or round. Female flower consists of a sessile carpel, ovary 1-celled, 1-ovuled, style simple, stigma oblique, style elongating in fruit forming the apical spine. Fruit a nutlet, 3.5-4 mm long, 2.5-3 mm broad (excluding spines), sessile with persistent perianth, ovoid, compressed, provided with 3 spines; one apical and 2-lateral, near the base.

Stems to 3 m. Leaves bright green, coarse textured, 1--2 × dichotomously divided; whorls 1.5--6 cm in diam.; segments linear to filiform, 1.5--2 cm × 1--5 µm, not inflated. Flowers 1--3 mm in diam. Achene dark green to reddish brown, body (excluding spines) 3.5--6 × 2--4 mm, smooth or slightly tuberculate, margins wingless and spineless, facial spines absent; basal spines or tubercles 2, 0.1--12 mm, straight or curved; terminal spine (persistent style) 0.5--14 mm. Fl. and fr. Jun--Sep. 2n = 24, 38, 40, 48.

Stems to 3 m; apical leaf whorls densely crowded. Leaves bright green, coarse-textured. Leaf blade simple or forked into 2-4(-5) ultimate segments (forking of largest leaves 1st or 2d order, rarely 3d order), segments not inflated, mature leaf whorls 1.5-6 cm diam., marginal denticles conspicuous, usually strongly raised on broad base of green tissue; 1st leaves of plumule simple. Achene dark green or reddish brown, body (excluding spines) 3.5-6 × 2-4 × 1-2.5 mm, basal spines or tubercles 2 (rarely absent), straight or curved, 0.1-12 mm, spine bases occasionally inconspicuously webbed, marginal spines absent, terminal spine straight, 0.5-14 mm, margins wingless. 2 n = 24, 38, 40, 48.

"Much branched, rootless, submerged, aquatic plants, 15-60 (-90) cm long. Leaves whorled, 1-4 times dichotomously branched, minutely toothed at irregular intervals, often terminated by 1 or 2 sharp bristles. Flowers minute, solitary, axillary, unisexual, male and female flowers at different nodes. Perianth segments 6-15, upto 1 mm long, connate at the base, each segment terminated by 2 bristles. Male flowers consisting of 8-30 stamens, spirally arranged on a convex receptacle, narrowed into the base, subsessile, apex terminated by two spinous incurved processes; anthers erect, 2-lobed, pollen elliptical or round. Female flower consists of a sessile carpel, ovary 1-celled, 1-ovuled, style simple, stigma oblique, style elongating in fruit forming the apical spine. Fruit a nutlet, 3.5-4 mm long, 2.5-3 mm broad (excluding spines), sessile with persistent perianth, ovoid, compressed, provided with 3 spines; one apical and 2-lateral, near the base."

Ceratophyllum apiculatum Chamisso

"Small ditches and ponds at low lands, sometimes in brackish water"

The native Coontail is occasional to common throughout Illinois. This species is native to a wide area of North America, from where it has spread to other parts of the world. Habitats include quiet inlets of lakes, ponds, rivers with slow-moving currents, marshes, and springs. Generally, Coontail is typically found in bodies of water with muddy bottoms, although it also occurs where the water bottom contains some sand or rocky material. Sometimes Coontail is cultivated as an aquarium plant. It has also been introduced deliberately into polluted bodies of water in bioremediation projects because of its ability to absorb suspended particles of chromium, lead, arsenic, and other chemicals.

Nile, irrigation canals, shallow or deep water, swamps, lakes, brakish water.

Fresh to slightly brackish rivers, streams, ditches, lakes, ponds, pools, marshes, swamps; 0-1700m.

Habitat and Ecology

Systems

• Freshwater

Depth range based on 8 specimens in 1 taxon.

Environmental ranges
  Depth range (m): 2 - 2
 
Note: this information has not been validated. Check this *note*. Your feedback is most welcome.

Streams, ponds, lakes. Anhui, Fujian, Guangdong, Guangxi, Guizhou, Hebei, Heilongjiang, Henan, Hubei, Hunan, Jiangsu, Jilin, Nei Mongol, Ningxia, Shaanxi, Shandong, Shanxi, Sichuan, Taiwan, Xinjiang, Xizang, Yunnan, Zhejiang [Cosmopolitan].

The leaves of Coontail provide hiding places for small aquatic organisms and its leaves are sometimes grazed by snails. Both the foliage and seeds of this aquatic plant are eaten by the American Coot (Fulica americana), many species of waterfowl (see the Waterfowl Table), and some turtles (Legler, 1943; Ernst et al., 1994), including the Musk Turtle (Sternotherus odoratus), Snapping Turtle (Chelydra serpentina), Blanding's Turtle (Emys blandingii), Painted Turtle (Chrysemys picta), River Cooter (Pseudemys concinna), and Slider (Trachemys scripta). This aquatic plant is also eaten by carp and, to a lesser extent, by muskrats. The foliage and seeds of Coontail can spread to new wetlands through human activity. For example, when people dump the content of aquariums into waterways that contain Coontail, it can easily establish itself in such habitats. Similarly, because Coontail can cling to anchors, boat trailers, fishing nets, and dredging equipment, it may be transported considerable distances from one body water to another.

Foodplant / open feeder
adult of Phaedon armoraciae grazes on live, perforated leaf of Ceratophyllum demersum
Remarks: season: 5-11

Flowering spring-late fall.

Fl. Per.: March June.

The following is a representative barcode sequence, the centroid of all available sequences for this species.

Barcode of Life Data Systems (BOLDS) Stats
Public Records: 10
Specimens with Barcodes: 16
Species With Barcodes: 1

Year Assessed

Assessor/s

Reviewer/s

Contributor/s

Justification

Canada

Rounded National Status Rank: N5 - Secure

United States

Rounded National Status Rank: N5 - Secure

Rounded Global Status Rank: G5 - Secure

Population

Population Trend

Major Threats

Conservation Actions

The preference is full sun and relatively clear water up to 9' deep that has adequate levels of nutrients; water pH can be mildly acidic to alkaline. At the water's bottom, the soil should consist of mud, sandy mud, or muddy gravel. Coontail is more tolerant of shade than the majority of aquatic plants and it is able to tolerate some turbidity in the water if it is not excessive. This aquatic plant can adapt to sites with either stagnant water or slow-moving currents where there is some protection from wind and waves. Because of its phytotoxic properties, Coontail can inhibit the growth of phytoplankton and blue-green algae (cyanobacteria). At some locations, it can spread aggressively and become a pest.