Water Star Grass

(Heteranthera dubia)

Water Star Grass (Heteranthera dubia [Jacq.] MacM.)

Identification: An aquatic plant either floating in shallow water or creeping along mud flats. Flowers yellow, star-like, solitary with 6 elongate, narrow petals and a long, thin, tubular base. Flowers just emergent in shallow water or erect on mud flats. Leaves long, narrow, grass-like, limp, submerged in shallow water, trailing along the ground in mudflats.

Distribution: Throughout most of North America.

Habitat: Water Star Grass is found in quiet, shallow water or the mud flats along rivers and lakes.

Flowering period: June to September.

Similar Species: The star-like, yellow flowers and long, thin leaves combined with habitat are highly distinctive.

Comments: Water Star Grass is atypical of the genus. Other species of Heteranthera look much more like water lilies and have heart-shaped leaves.