Water Starwort
Callitriche spp.

Water starwort is an underwater grass with bright green, egg-shaped leaves that float on the surface of the water. It grows in quiet fresh waters throughout the Chesapeake Bay watershed.

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A mat of water starwort plants covers the area of the image.
Water starwort plants grow together in freshwater. (Photo courtesy glokplopit/iNaturalist CC BY-NC) (Photo courtesy glokplopit/iNaturalist CC BY-NC, cropped)

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Appearance

Water starwort has bright green, oval- or egg-shaped leaves on the upper part of its stem and straight leaves on the lower, submerged part of its stem. Two leaves grow at each joint on the stem.

Predators

Ducks feed on the leaves and seeds.

Reproduction and life cycle

Water starwort reproduces both sexually and asexually. It flowers from July to September, forming numerous seeds.

Did you know?

  • Water starwort provides habitat for fish and aquatic insects.
  • Ducks feed on the leaves and seeds of water starwort.
  • There are four species of water starwort that grow in North America, but they are so similar that you need a microscope to distinguish them.

Sources and additional information

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