WATERSTARGRASS 



Heteranthera dub/a Jacq. 



The leaf and stem tissue of this submersed plant could easily cause 

 it to be mistaken for a pondweed were it not for its light yellow starlike 

 flowers (insert 1). The star-shaped flowers are produced singularly on 

 elongated tubelike stems that are exposed above the water surface 

 (insert 4). Leaves of waterstargrass lack a midrib vein and are grasslike 

 with bases attached directly to the branching stems (insert 2). The leaf 

 sheaths are thin membraneous and tipped with small, pointed 

 appendages (insert 3). 



There is a form of this plant that produces shorter leaves and stems 

 and grows on shallow mudbars. This form is reported to flower more 

 often than the submersed aquatic type. The genus Heteranthera is 

 sometimes commonly referred to as mud plantain, probably because 

 of the ability of various species to survive on mudbanks. 



Waterstargrass grows in both still and flowing waters. Although it 

 is widespread in the Midwestern and Southeastern States, it is not 

 commonly seen in Western irrigation canals. It has been reported most 

 extensively in canals of Arizona and occasionally in California. 



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