Illinois Natural History Survey - University of Illinois

Elodea canadensis
Elodea
Taxonomy

Synonyms: Anarcharis canadensis

Subspecific taxa:

Classification:

Other taxonomic & nomenclature sources: USDA Plants;  ITIS;  The Plant List;  IPNI

Images

   
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Species Distribution
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More about map & occurrence records

County Map Legend
Absent:
Not known from county
Medium confidence:
Medium or unknown confidence;
often old records or unverifiable observations
Medium-high confidence:
Often observations by expert botanists
High confidence:
Often vouchered herbarium records
Planted / introduced:
Native species introduced outside historic range,
or only in planted locations within county (e.g., restorations)
Historic / extirpated:
Only historic records for the species; likely extirpated
(Note that this category is not yet functional)

North American distribution maps for this species: FLNA;  USDA Plants;  BONAP;  BISON

Collections, Observations & Flowering by Month [?]

J
0
F
0
M
0
A
0
M
0
J
0
J
0
A
0
S
0
O
0
N
0
D
0

Collections & Observations by Decade [?]

Species Status

Status/Listing: No Information

Notes:

Origin: Native

Species Description

General: Monocot, perennial

Roots:

Shoots: whorled leaf arrangment; simple leaf type; entire leaf margin; Parallel leaf venation; linear leaf shape

Inflorescence: other

Flowers: unisexual, dioecious; 3 merous; regular; epigynous ovary position

Fruit:

Physiology: autotrophic

Reproduction: sexual

Ecology & Natural History

Habitat: Species is distributed in sloughs or sluggish streams and lakes containing hard, clear fresh water 1 to 10" of water. It is also found in somewhat stagnant streams or ditches; it tolerates disturbance well.

ILPIN Notes: Leaves of pistillate plants are more crowded toward tip of stem than those of staminate plants. Regarding waterfowl food value, this pertains especially to red heads, mallards, widgeons, scaups, coots. Regarding aquatic species food value, this pertains to fish - carp are resistant. Plant has six unspecified pevianth segments. Species is quick growing. Form - fresh plant at 10 bushels/acre. Species is occasional in northern 1/2 of the state; rare in southern half. Seed company numbers: 1, 11.

Functional Relationships:

  • Pollinators:
  • Dispersal:
  • Mycorrhizae:
  • N2 fixation:

Human Relationships:

  • Edibility [?] :
  • Showy Flowers: low

Wildlife and Livestock Information:

  • Food Value:
  • Cover Value: aquatic species: good

Coefficient of Conservatism (C-value) [?] :

  • Entire State: 5
  • Chicago Area: 5

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