Damasonium californicum
Fringed Water-plantain Star Water-plantain | |
---|---|
![]() | |
Scientific classification | |
Kingdom: | Plantae |
(unranked): | Angiosperms |
(unranked): | Monocots |
Order: | Alismatales |
Family: | Alismataceae |
Genus: | Damasonium |
Species: | D. californicum |
Binomial name | |
Damasonium californicum Torr. ex Benth. | |
Synonyms | |
Alisma californicum Micheli |
Damasonium californicum is a species of perennial wildflower in the water plantain family which is known by the common name Fringed Water-plantain, or Star Water-plantain. This is a plant of wet environments in the western United States from Idaho, Oregon, Nevada, California, Montana, Washington State.[1][2]
Damasonium californicum is a resident of ponds, riversides, and vernal pools. This is a tough-stemmed plant which may live submersed in water or erect on mud or moist soils. It has long, narrow leaves consisting of a thin blade at the end of a long petiole. The inflorescence yields a flower at the end of each of several long peduncles. The flower has three white or pink petals, each with toothed or fringed ends and sometimes a yellow spot at the base. At the center are six short stamens. After the flower withers the fruits develop into flat, beaked achenes, several achenes gathered into a star-shaped bunch.[3]