American Featherfoil

Other Common Names:

(Hottonia inflata)

Native

American featherfoil has finely divided floating leaves and inflated flower stems standing in groups above the water with small white flowers.

Description

Thin roots hang in the water with an underwater stem.

Leaves can be submersed or floating and have an oblong outline. Finely divided leaves can be alternate, opposite, or whorled. They are clustered at the base of the flower stems and typically fan out.

Flower stems are inflated and grow up to six inches tall above the water’s surface. Small white flowers grow in whorls where the stems become constricted. Multiple whorls of flowers can be present on each stem.

American featherfoil grows in shallow, stable water.

Location

American featherfoil can be found in the eastern and southern United States.

Propagation

seeds spread by ducks and beavers