Northeast Wetland Flora
Field Office Guide to Plant Species
Najas minor All.
- Family: Naiad (Najadaceae)
- Flowering: August-October
- Field Marks: This naiad differs from all others by having 6-15 minute spinules on each side of the leaf (not including the basal, broadened, leaf sheath) and by the seeds with ladder-like markings.
- Habitat: Quiet water.
- Habit: Annual aquatic herb.
- Stems: Submerged, much branched, smooth, the terminal nodes crowded, the internodes lime-green.
- Leaves: Opposite, simple, thread-like, lime-green, up to 1 3/4 inches long, recurved and minutely spiny at the top, tapering to a broadened leaf sheath at the base, each leaf margin with 6-15 minute spinules on each side of the leaf (not including those on the sheath).
- Flowers: Male and female borne separately in the axils of the leaves but on the same plant.
- Sepals: 0.
- Petals: 0.
- Stamens: 1.
- Pistils: Ovary superior; stigmas 2.
- Fruits: Narrow, slightly curved, up to 1/6 inch long, 1/4 as thick as long, marked with 10-18 longitudinal ribs of broad, rectangular areas, resembling a ladder.
- Notes: This species has been introduced from Europe. The seeds are eaten by waterfowl.
Previous Species -- Slender Naiad (Najas flexilis)
Return to Species List -- Group 4
Next Species -- Northern Green Orchid (Platanthera hyperborea)
