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Eel Grass, tapegrass, Wild celery

Vallisneria americana

Eelgrass Location in North America
Eelgrass Location in Southeast US

eel grass drawing
eel grass on a rock
eel grass close up

eel grass top view
eel grass under water
eel grass flower

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 Eel Grass?

Physical Characteristics

Leaves:

  • Clustered at base
  • Straight
  • Thin, ribbon-like
  • Entirely submerged or with upper part floating
  • About 2 feet long & 0.78 inches wide

Flowers:

  • Numerous
  • Crowded on short pedunculate surface
  • Some floating on the water

Fruit:

  • Cylinder-shaped
  • Does not split to release seed
  • 3.16-7.09 inches long

Roots:

  • Stringy
  • Fleshy buds

Eel grass, tapegrass, or wild celery are all common names for Vallisneria.

Where Does it Grow?

Eel grass can be found in lakes and beds of flowing streams.

Pros and Cons of Eel grass

Eel grass seeds, roots and leaves are consumed by ducks and other waterfowl; while its dense underwater structures provides an excellent habitats for invertebrates and fish. 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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