Illinois Natural History Survey - University of Illinois

Najas flexilis
Slender naiad
Taxonomy

Synonyms:

Subspecific taxa:

Classification:

  • Magnoliophyta

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

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, annual

Roots:

Shoots: opposite leaf arrangment; simple leaf type; entire leaf margin; Parallel leaf venation; awl-shaped leaf shape

Inflorescence: solitary

Flowers: unisexual, dioecious; incomplete, not petals, not sepals, regular; hypogynous ovary position

Fruit: achene

Physiology: autotrophic

Reproduction: sexual

Ecology & Natural History

Habitat: Species is distributed in quiet, slow-moving, fresh, slightly alkaline or brackish water, 1-8 feet deep.

ILPIN Notes: Speices may also be monoecious. Seed company numbers: 1, 11. Leaves are often crowded towards tip. FLowers are in globose heads. Plants are available in fall only at 5 bushels/acre. Concerning weediness, PIN has indicated it is non-weedy. Marshbirds and shorebirds eat seeds and leaves as food. Regarding aquatic species cover, this pertains to fish.

Functional Relationships:

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

Human Relationships:

  • Edibility [?] :
  • Showy Flowers:

Wildlife and Livestock Information:

  • Food Value: waterfowl: good; fish: good
  • Cover Value: fish: good

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

  • Entire State: 5
  • Chicago Area: 6

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