Potamogeton vaseyi

HABIT: Submersed dimorphic aquatic, flowering and fruiting specimens with dilated leaves and occasional winter-buds, sterile specimens without dilated leaves and with abundant winter-buds, stem filiform, freely branching, submersed leaves linear-filiform; flowering July-October.

SIMILAR SPECIES: Sterile material without floating leaves may resemble P. berchtoldii, and can be confused with sterile specimens of P. pusillus, from which P. vaseyi can be distinguished by the small inter buds on short branches and the free stipules; plants with floating leaves can be distinguished from P. spirillus by stipules and flowering habit.

TOTAL RANGE: S. Que. and s. Ont., s. to N.B., ME, MA, PA, OH, IL, and MN.

STATE RANGE: ASHTABULA CO.: Ashtabula, 24 June 1900, E. V. South (BGSU); small pond along Conneaut River near Farnham, 12 Aug. 1928, L. E. Hicks (OS,2 sheets). PORTAGE CO.: -----, 13 June 1913, L. S. Hopkins (KE); S. side of lake, Brady Lake, R. J. Webb 1352 (KE); Brady Lake, 22 Aug 1913, L. S. Hopkins (OS, 2 sheets). TRUMBULL CO.: Mosquito Creek, Howland Twp., 4 July 1935, A. Rood & R. Shanks (OS).

STATE STATUS: 1980 to present: Presumed Extirpated.

HABITAT: Quite, muddy or calcareous waters of small lakes at depths up to 5 m.

HAZARDS: Mechanical disturbance of habitat.

RECOVERY POTENTIAL: Unknown, presumed poor.

INVENTORY GUIDELINES: Every effort should be made to obtain fruiting specimens; however, in the absence of fertile material, sterile specimens should be collected.

COMMENTS: While somewhat unlikely, this species, like other pondweeds, may unexpectedly become established in suitable waters. It should continue to be sought in northeastern Ohio.

SELECTED REFERENCES:

Fernald, M.L. 1932. The linear-leaved North American species of Potamogeton section Axillares. Mem. Am. Acad. 17: 1-183.

Ohio Department of Natural Resources

Division of Natural Areas and Preserves

Created: 1/1985 John Marshall

Database Code: SPGC.H61