Native Plants

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Romfh, Peggy

Ceratophyllum demersum

Ceratophyllum demersum L.

Coon's Tail

Ceratophyllaceae (Hornwort Family)

Synonym(s): Ceratophyllum apiculatum, Ceratophyllum demersum var. apiculatum, Ceratophyllum demersum var. apiculatum

USDA Symbol: CEDE4

USDA Native Status: L48 (N), AK (N), HI (I), PR (N), VI (N), CAN (N)

Brittle, rootless and entirely submerged. Useful as oxygenator in garden ponds, and as shelter for small fishes and aquatic invertebrates.

From the Image Gallery

3 photo(s) available in the Image Gallery

Plant Characteristics

Duration: Perennial
Habit: Herb
Leaf Arrangement: Whorled
Leaf Margin: Entire
Breeding System: Monoecious
Fruit Type: Achene
Size Notes: Aquatic, floating stems up to about 12 feet long.
Leaf: Gray-Green

Bloom Information

Bloom Color: Pink , Yellow , Blue
Bloom Time: Mar , Apr , May , Jun , Jul , Aug , Sep , Oct , Nov
Bloom Notes: Flowers inconspicuous.

Distribution

USA: AK , AL , AR , AZ , CA , CO , CT , DC , DE , FL , GA , HI , IA , ID , IL , IN , KS , KY , LA , MA , MD , ME , MI , MN , MO , MS , MT , NC , ND , NE , NH , NJ , NM , NV , NY , OH , OK , OR , PA , RI , SC , SD , TN , TX , UT , VA , VT , WA , WI , WV , WY
Canada: AB , BC , MB , NB , NS , ON , PE , QC , SK

Growing Conditions

Water Use: High
Light Requirement: Part Shade
CaCO3 Tolerance: High
Aquatic: yes

National Wetland Indicator Status

Region:	AGCP	AK	AW	CB	EMP	GP	HI	MW	NCNE	WMVE
Status:	OBL	OBL	OBL	OBL	OBL	OBL	OBL	OBL	OBL	OBL

This information is derived from the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers National Wetland Plant List, Version 3.1 (Lichvar, R.W. 2013. The National Wetland Plant List: 2013 wetland ratings. Phytoneuron 2013-49: 1-241). Click here for map of regions.

Web Reference

Webref 62 - Burke Herbarium Image Collection (2020) University of Washington
Webref 38 - Flora of North America (2019) Missouri Botanical Garden, St. Louis, MO & Harvard University Herbaria, Cambridge, MA.
Webref 23 - Southwest Environmental Information Network (2009) SEINet - Arizona Chapter

Additional resources

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

Metadata

Record Modified: 2022-11-03
Research By: TWC Staff

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