Habitat: Fanwort is found in the submersed and floating-leaved plant communities, growing in a variety of substrates including sand, mud and gravel. It thrives in stagnant or slow moving waters of lakes, pond and streams in depths of up to 2.5 meters. Large mats of drifting fragments may occur.
Description: Fanwort is a submersed perennial with stems emerging at intervals along horizontal rhizomes. The plant has two distinct leaf types. The submersed leaves are finely divided, widely branched, and held apart from the stem on slender petioles, resembling tiny fans with handles. The leaves are arranged in opposite pairs along the main stem. The orderly formation of leaves and stems gives the plant a “tubular” appearance underwater. Plants range in color from grass green to olive green to reddish. Floating leaves, when present, are inconspicuous (1 cm long), elongate and elliptical. They are arranged alternately on slender petioles attached to center of each leaf. Small white flowers (1 cm in diameter) develop among the floating leaves. |
