Native Plants
Search for native plants by scientific name, common name or family. If you are not sure what you are looking for, try the Combination Search or our Recommended Species lists.
Ceratophyllum demersum
Ceratophyllum demersum L.
Coon's Tail
Ceratophyllaceae (Hornwort Family)
Synonym(s): Ceratophyllum apiculatum, Ceratophyllum demersum var. apiculatum, Ceratophyllum demersum var. apiculatum
USDA Symbol: CEDE4
USDA Native Status: L48 (N), AK (N), HI (I), PR (N), VI (N), CAN (N)
Brittle, rootless and entirely submerged. Useful as oxygenator in garden ponds, and as shelter for small fishes and aquatic invertebrates.
Plant Characteristics
Duration: PerennialHabit: Herb
Leaf Arrangement: Whorled
Leaf Margin: Entire
Breeding System: Monoecious
Fruit Type: Achene
Size Notes: Aquatic, floating stems up to about 12 feet long.
Leaf: Gray-Green
Bloom Information
Bloom Color: Pink , Yellow , BlueBloom Time: Mar , Apr , May , Jun , Jul , Aug , Sep , Oct , Nov
Bloom Notes: Flowers inconspicuous.
Distribution
USA: AK , AL , AR , AZ , CA , CO , CT , DC , DE , FL , GA , HI , IA , ID , IL , IN , KS , KY , LA , MA , MD , ME , MI , MN , MO , MS , MT , NC , ND , NE , NH , NJ , NM , NV , NY , OH , OK , OR , PA , RI , SC , SD , TN , TX , UT , VA , VT , WA , WI , WV , WYCanada: AB , BC , MB , NB , NS , ON , PE , QC , SK
Growing Conditions
Water Use: HighLight Requirement: Part Shade
CaCO3 Tolerance: High
Aquatic: yes
National Wetland Indicator Status
Region: | AGCP | AK | AW | CB | EMP | GP | HI | MW | NCNE | WMVE |
Status: | OBL | OBL | OBL | OBL | OBL | OBL | OBL | OBL | OBL | OBL |
Web Reference
Webref 62 - Burke Herbarium Image Collection (2020) University of WashingtonWebref 38 - Flora of North America (2019) Missouri Botanical Garden, St. Louis, MO & Harvard University Herbaria, Cambridge, MA.
Webref 23 - Southwest Environmental Information Network (2009) SEINet - Arizona Chapter
Additional resources
USDA: Find Ceratophyllum demersum in USDA PlantsFNA: Find Ceratophyllum demersum in the Flora of North America (if available)
Google: Search Google for Ceratophyllum demersum
Metadata
Record Modified: 2022-11-03Research By: TWC Staff