Plants of South Eastern New South Wales

Vallisneria australis

Plants. Photographer eyeweed, Glen Oak, near Newcastle

Female flower and leaves. Photographer eyeweed, Glen Oak, near Newcastle

Floating male flowers. Photographer eyeweed, Glen Oak, near Newcastle

Common name

Ribbonweed, Eelweed

Family

Hydrocharitaceae

Where found

In stationary or flowing freshwater to 7m deep. Coast, ranges, tablelands, and ACT. Rarely elsewhere.

Notes

Submerged perennial aquatic herb. Leaves basal, to 300 cm long or more, 10-35 mm wide, margins toothed, tips blunt. Usually covered in brown slime and silt. Male and female flowers on separate plants. Male flowers less than 0.5 mm long, less than 1 mm in diameter. Many male flowers within a membranous sheath, the sheath opening to release the flowers, which float to the surface. Female flowers 1.9-4 mm long, pink or white inside, with 3 sepals 1-2 mm long, and 3 minute petals. Female flowers in clusters of 1-4. The bracts surrounding the female flowers translucent. Flowers Nov.– Apr..

All native plants on unleased land in the ACT are protected.

PlantNET description: http://plantnet.rbgsyd.nsw.gov.au/cgi-bin/NSWfl.pl?page=nswfl&lvl=sp&name=Vallisneria~australis (accessed 8 February, 2021)