keys to the vascular plants of east texas - Botanical Research ...

1150 ZANNICHELLIACEAE/ZANNICHELLIA
whorled, very narrow, ca. 0.5 mm wide, to 10 cm long, entire, not sheathing basally (versus
sheathing basally in the superficially similar Najas); stipules sheathing, membranous, to 4 mm
long; inflorescences axillary, usually 2-flowered (1 flower staminate and 1 pistillate, the 2 together
appearing as a single flower); perianth absent or nearly so (female flowers have a very
reduced spathe or perianth—Guo et al. 1990); staminate flower of only a single stamen; pistillate
flower of (2–)4(–8) free carpels; ovaries superior; fruits pedicellate nutlets 2–4 mm long including
the beak (= persistent style), oblong, curved, ridged or dentate on back. Fresh or brackish
waters of lakes or streams; McLennan, Travis (BRIT), Bastrop, Bell, Fannin, Gonzales, Hays,
and Williamson (Turner et al. 2003) cos. mainly near w margin of East TX; widely scattered in
TX, except the far e part; s Canada and widespread throughout most of the U.S. but less common
in the se. Apr–Jul. The foliage and fruits are important foods for waterfowl (Kaul 1986).