photo: Leslie J. Mehrhoff, University of Connecticut, Bugwood.org
Brittle Najas (Najas minor)
 Leslie J. Mehrhoff, University of Connecticut, Bugwood.org |
 Leslie J. Mehrhoff, University of Connecticut, Bugwood.org |
 Leslie J. Mehrhoff, University of Connecticut, Bugwood.org |
Form:
Herbaceous, aquatic annual with stems that can grow 4-7.75” long. These stems can be up to 0.04” thick.
Leaves:
The oppositely arranged, dark green leaves become recurved as they age, and have serrulate margins with 7-15 small teeth on each side. The leaf base is truncate or lobed. The leaves measure 0.2-1.25” long and 0.007-0.05” wide.
Flowers:
Najas minor is a monoecious plant, with 1-2 flowers per axil. The male flowers are located distally and are 0.08” in size. The involucre has two lobes and the beaks are 0.02-0.08” in length. The female flowers are located in the distal to proximal axils and measure 0.8” in size.
Fruits & Seeds:
The spindle-shaped seeds of this plant are 0.05-0.1” in size and purple colored.
Tier 3 - Presence is of Interest
The species that occur in this tier are likely ornamental escapes. It is not known whether they are established and/or spreading within Cleveland Metroparks. The ecological impact is poorly known for these species.
Action: The presence of these plants should be recorded by approximating the number of plants. Initial population numbers are likely small.
