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Hottonia inflata
Hottonia inflata Elliott
American Featherfoil, Featherfoil
Primulaceae (Primrose Family)
Synonym(s):
USDA Symbol: HOIN
USDA Native Status: L48 (N), CAN (N)
An aquatic with several thick, hollow, inflated, upright stalks emerging from water and bearing tiny, greenish-white flowers in terminal clusters and in circles at stalk joints.
The unusual appearance of this floating aquatic plant is due to the 1/2" (1.5 cm) thick, inflated flower stalks that are constricted at the joints and essentially leafless. Plants appear in great abundance for a season and then completely vanish for as many as seven or eight years before appearing again.
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Plant Characteristics
Duration: AnnualHabit: Herb
Leaf Complexity: Pinnate
Breeding System: Flowers Bisexual
Fruit Type: Capsule
Size Notes: Up to about 20 inches tall, stems often submersed.
Bloom Information
Bloom Color: White , GreenBloom Time: Apr , May , Jun , Jul , Aug
Distribution
USA: AL , AR , CT , DE , GA , IL , IN , KY , LA , MA , MD , ME , MO , MS , NC , NH , NJ , NY , OH , OK , PA , RI , SC , TN , TX , VA , WVNative Distribution: Maine south to Georgia, west to Texas, and north to Missouri, Illinois, Indiana, and Ohio.
Native Habitat: Pools, ditches, swamps, and stagnant ponds; usually in more than 1' (30 cm) of water.
National Wetland Indicator Status
Region: | AGCP | AK | AW | CB | EMP | GP | HI | MW | NCNE | WMVE |
Status: | OBL | OBL | OBL | OBL | OBL |
Web Reference
Webref 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 Hottonia inflata in USDA PlantsFNA: Find Hottonia inflata in the Flora of North America (if available)
Google: Search Google for Hottonia inflata
Metadata
Record Modified: 2023-05-03Research By: TWC Staff