About Eriocaulon aquaticum (Hill) Druce
Eriocaulon aquaticum (Hill) Druce is a perennial aquatic plant. On land, it grows to a maximum height of 20 cm, but when fully submerged, it can reach heights of several feet. It has grass-like basal leaves that grow from the plant's base. Its inflorescences consist of many tiny flowers, held above the waterline on long, unbranched stems. The flowers are white, with nectar glands near the tip of each petal that attract pollinating insects. Blooms are monoecious: male flowers sit at the centre of the flowerhead, and female flowers grow surrounding the male flowers. This species occurs only in the northern hemisphere. It is widespread across North America, where it has been recorded in the U.S. states of Alabama, Connecticut, Delaware, Indiana, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, Michigan, Minnesota, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New York, North Carolina, Ohio, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, South Carolina, Vermont, Virginia, and Wisconsin. It is also widespread across Canada, found in the provinces of Labrador, New Brunswick, Newfoundland, Nova Scotia, Ontario, and Québec. Within Europe, it is found only in the United Kingdom and Ireland. Eriocaulon aquaticum is a wetland species that inhabits bogs, ponds, lakes, marshes, and slow-flowing rivers. It is generally associated with temperate lowland habitats, though it has been recorded growing up to 300 metres above sea level.
