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Coontail

Ceratophyllum demersum

Coontail Location in North America
Coontail Location in Southeast US
coontail being held

coontail drawing
coontail measured

coontail up close
many coontail branches
coontail flower bud

USDA, NRCS. 2018. The PLANTS Database (http://plants.usda.gov, 28 March 2018). National Plant Data Team, Greensboro, NC 27401-4901 USA.
Illustration courtesy of University of Florida/IFAS Center for Aquatic and Invasive Plants. Used with permission.

What is Coontail?

Physical Characteristics

Leaves:

  • Entirely under water
  • Up to 12 leaves in a whorl
  • Straight and flat
  • Variable length, usually about 0.59 inches long

Stems:

  • Up to 11.4 feet long
  • Branching
  • Form large masses
  • Brittle
  • Somewhat cord-like and flexible

Fruit/Seeds:

  • Elliptical-shaped
  • Tightly packed
  • Smooth
  • About 0.16-0.19 inches long

Where Does it Grow?

Coontail can be found in the quiet waters of lakes, ponds, and slow streams.

Pros and Cons of Coontail

The fruits of coontail are consumed by ducks and it is considered a good wildlife food. Submerged portions of all aquatic plants provide habitats for many micro and macro invertebrates. These invertebrates in turn are used as food by fish and other wildlife species (e.g. amphibians, reptiles, ducks, etc.). After aquatic plants die, their decomposition by bacteria and fungi provides food (called “detritus”) for many aquatic invertebrates.

How to Manage This Plant
Plant Glossary

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Photo Credits: The majority of the aquatic plant line drawings are the copyright of the University of Florida Center for Aquatic Plants (Gainsville). They are used with permission.

Aquatic plant photographs were provided by David Bayne, Jim Davis, Kelly Duffie, Billy Higginbotham, Michael Masser, John Clayton, Chetta Owens, Diane Smith, Joe Snow, Don Steinbach, Bridget Robinson Lassiter and Peter Woods.

You may use these photos, so long as you give credit to AquaPlant.

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