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water-starwort
Scientific Name: Callitriche
Family: Callitrichaceae
Category: Dicot
Growth:
Duration:
Other Names:
Callitriche: The Water Starwort
Water starwort, belonging to the genus Callitriche, encompasses various aquatic plants. These plants, often found submerged or floating in quiet waters, play a role in aquatic ecosystems.
Considerations for Pets
- All parts of these plants are eaten by ducks.
Scientific Name and Common Names
- Scientific Name: Callitriche (genus)
- Common Names: Water Starwort, Starwort, Water Chickweed
Taxonomy and Nomenclature
- Genus: Callitriche
- Family: Callitrichaceae
Historically, Callitriche was the only genus in the Callitrichaceae family.
Distribution and Habitat
- Water starworts are found in various locations, including Europe, America, and Asia.
- They thrive in ditches, swamps, streams, lakes, vernal pools, and other wet areas, especially where water movement is minimal.
- Specifically, Callitriche brutia is noted to occur throughout Europe, from Iceland and the Faroe Islands, through Scandinavia to Poland and the Czech Republic.
Ecological Role
- Some species, like Canadian pondweed, can be invasive and quickly take over ponds.
- Pond water-starwort has entered North America at seaports.
Morphological Characteristics and Growth Habits
- Water starworts can be submerged or terrestrial plants, with stems reaching up to 60 cm long.
- Submerged leaves are narrowly elliptical, while floating leaves are often in a rosette formation, broadly elliptical in shape.
- Callitriche heterophylla has two distinct types of leaves.
- Pond water-starwort has an elongated 4-12 inch stem with opposite leaves that can be floating or submerged.
Interactions with Other Organisms
- Water starworts provide cover for aquatic life.
- All parts of the plant are consumed by ducks.
- They may be found alongside other aquatic plants such as lesser water-parsnip and blunt-fruited water-starwort.
Resources and Further Information
- RHS (Royal Horticultural Society) provides information on Callitriche stagnalis.