Share

Native Plant Database

Search for native plants by scientific name, common name or family. If you are not sure what you are looking for, try the Combination Search or our Recommended Species lists.

Search native plant database:
Name:    
Family:    

Damasonium californicum Torr. ex Benth.

California damsonium, Fringed Water Plantain

Alismataceae (Water-Plantain Family)

USDA Symbol: DACA12

USDA Native Status: Native to U.S.

Several basal leaves and 1 or few flower stalks with white or pink, fringed flowers often in clusters on whorled branches. This was once considered the sole species in a small western American genus, Machaerocarpus. It has now been placed in a wide-ranging but still small genus, which also occurs in Eurasia and Australia.

Members of the Water-Plantain Family grow in water, in swamps, on muddy banks, or occasionally in wet sand. Each plant has long-petioled leaves in a clump with a flowering stem rising among them. The flowers have 3 green sepals, 3 white or pink-tinged petals, 6 or more stamens, and several pistils. Stamens and pistils may be in separate flowers.

 

From the Image Gallery

No images of this plant

Plant Characteristics

Duration: Perennial
Habit: Herb
Leaf: Green
Flower:
Fruit:

Bloom Information

Bloom Color: White
Bloom Time: Apr , May , Jun , Jul , Aug

Distribution

USA: CA , ID , NV , OR , WA
Native Distribution: Northern half of California and adjacent regions of Oregon and Nevada east to southwestern Idaho.
Native Habitat: Shallow water or mud in open areas.
USDA Native Status: L48(N)

Growing Conditions

Water Use: High
Light Requirement: Sun
CaCO3 Tolerance: Medium

Benefit

Conspicuous Flowers: yes

Recommended Species Lists

Find native plant species by state. Each list contains commercially available species suitable for gardens and planned landscapes. Once you have selected a collection, you can browse the collection or search within it using the combination search.

View Recommended Species page

Additional resources

USDA: Find Damasonium californicum in USDA Plants
FNA: Find Damasonium californicum in the Flora of North America (if available)
Google: Search Google for Damasonium californicum

Metadata

Record Modified: 2007-01-01
Research By: TWC Staff

Go back