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Western Wetland Flora

Field Office Guide to Plant Species

Northern Mudwort
Limosella aquatics L.

JPG -- Species Photo JPG -- Distribution Map

Family: Figwort (Scrophulariaceae)
Flowering: May-November
Field Marks: This species is recognized by only basal leaves elliptic or oblong on long stalks and by solitary white flowers on leafless stalks.
Habitat: Along streams, in ponds, sometimes in water as much as 6 inches deep.
Habit: Perennial herb with stolons.
Stems: Only the flower-bearing stem present, 1/2-1 inch long, smooth.
Leaves: All in a basal tuft, the blades often floating, oblong to elliptic, up to 1 1/2 inches long, up to 1/2 inch wide, on long stalks 2-4 times longer than the blade, smooth, without teeth.
Flowers: Solitary at the tip of leafless stalks.
Sepals: 5, green with purple spots, united below to form a short tube, smooth, up to 1/8 inch long.
Petals: 5, white, united below to form a short tube, the lobes nearly equal in size and spreading, about 1/12 inch long.
Stamens: 4.
Pistils: Ovary superior, smooth.
Fruits: Capsules ovoid to spherical, up to 1/8 inch long, smooth, with dark brown seeds.
Notes: The seeds are sometimes eaten by waterfowl.

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URL: http://www.npwrc.usgs.gov/resource/plants/florawe/species/8/limoaqua.htm
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Page Last Modified: Saturday, 02-Feb-2013 06:28:03 EST
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