Description
Callitriche – Water Starwort – Water Chickweed –
There are about 25 species of aquatic, sometimes terrestrial, herbaceous annuals and perennials, in this genus. They occur from bogs and Marshes in temperate regions of all continents. They grow in tight, submerged clumps or form a turf like surface on set soil.. The floating leaves are opposite spoon shaped to rounded, The tangled submerged leaves are linear, and almost translucent in deeper water. The name “starwort” arises from the rosette like arrangement of the leaves of some species. Minute, solitary flowers are borne in summer from the axils of both the floating and submerged leaves followed by tiny nut like fruit. Grow as oxygenating plants in ponds and cold water aquaria.
To control spread, grow in baskets of loamy soil or soil based potting mix, topped with a layer of gravel, submerged 18-24″ deep, in sum or partial shade. In cold water aquarium grow in an inert medium in full light.
C. hermaphroditica – C. autumnalia – Autumn Starwort – This submerged aquatic perennial from Europe and North America has an indefinite spread, can cover entire pools. It produces linear, light green leaves, 1 1/4″ long, on thin, branching stems to 20″ long. Does not develop floating rosettes and grows mainly toward the bottom of a pool.
Zones 5-9
