Spermatophytes (seed plants): Angiosperms (flowering plants): Monocots: Alismatales
WEAKLEY'S FLORA OF THE SOUTHEASTERN US (4/14/23):
Najas minor
FAMILY
Hydrocharitaceae
Go to FSUS key
Dig deeper at SERNEC, a consortium of southeastern herbaria.
Check out EDDMapS.org to see where this has been reported.
Learn more about Spinyleaf Naiad from the Vascular Plants of North Carolina.
SYNONYMOUS WITH
PLANTS NATIONAL DATABASE:
Najas minor
FAMILY
Najadaceae
SYNONYMOUS WITH Floristic Synthesis of North America. BONAP (Kartesz, 2021)
Najas minor
SYNONYMOUS WITH Flora of North America north of Mexico, vol. 22 (2000)
Najas minor
SYNONYMOUS WITH Floristic Synthesis of North America (Kartesz, 1999)
Najas minor
SYNONYMOUS WITH Aquatic & Wetland Plants of Southeastern US (Godfrey & Wooten, 1979 & 1981)
Najas minor
SYNONYMOUS WITH VASCULAR FLORA OF THE CAROLINAS (Radford, Ahles, & Bell, 1968) 025-01-003:
Najas minor FAMILY Najadaceae
COMMON NAME:
Spinyleaf Naiad, Brittle Waternymph
To see larger pictures, click or hover over the thumbnails.
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USDA-NRCS PLANTS Database / USDA Wetland flora: Field office illustrated guide pnd_nami_002_lvd
WEAKLEY'S FLORA OF THE SOUTHEASTERN US (4/14/23):
Najas minor
FAMILY
Hydrocharitaceae
SYNONYMOUS WITH
PLANTS NATIONAL DATABASE:
Najas minor
FAMILY
Najadaceae
SYNONYMOUS WITH
Floristic Synthesis of North America. BONAP (Kartesz, 2021)
Najas minor
SYNONYMOUS WITH
Flora of North America north of Mexico, vol. 22
Najas minor
SYNONYMOUS WITH
Floristic Synthesis of North America (Kartesz, 1999)
Najas minor
SYNONYMOUS WITH
Aquatic & Wetland Plants of Southeastern US (Godfrey & Wooten, 1979 & 1981)
Najas minor
SYNONYMOUS WITH
VASCULAR FLORA OF THE CAROLINAS (Radford, Ahles, & Bell, 1968) 025-01-003:
Najas minor
FAMILY
Najadaceae
3795
Submersed aquatic (rooted); Forb
Annual
Monoecious
Habitat: Ponds, lakes, and reservoirs, particularly where eutrophic, per Weakley's Flora
Non-native: Eurasia
Common (uncommon in NC) (uncommon in GA Coastal Plain)
CLICK HERE to see a map, notes, and images from Weakley's Flora of the Southeastern US.
This plant is causing problems in natural areas outside its native range, according to authorities such as:
- Alabama Invasive Plant Council, 2012
- Georgia Exotic Pest Plant Council, 2006
- Kentucky Exotic Pest Plant Council, 2013
- SC Department of Natural Resources Aquatic Nuisance Species List, 2003
- SC List of Regulated Pest Plant Species, 2017
- Tennessee Exotic Pest Plant Council, 2009
- Virginia Department of Conservation and Recreation, 2014
IS THE PLANT "ARMED"?
Leaf margins conspicuously serrulate, with 7-15 spinulose teeth per leaf side
LEAVES:
Simple (becoming recurved late in the season)
Leaves nearly opposite or appearing whorled
FLOWER:
Summer/Fall
1 stamen in staminate flowers
Superior ovary
Unisexual
Flowers in leaf axils
FRUIT:
Greenish
Achene
TO LEARN MORE about this plant, look it up in a good book!
If a search such as "Carex leptalea var. leptalea" doesn't deliver the results you want, try "Carex leptalea".
Or, to minimize chances of a misspelling, try just "Carex le".
Less is more: If "pencil flower" doesn't deliver the results you want, try "pencil".