About Najas guadalupensis (Spreng.) Magnus
Najas guadalupensis, commonly known as southern waternymph, guppy grass, najas grass, and common water nymph, is an aquatic plant species. It is native to the Americas, with a widespread distribution across its native range. Its confirmed native regions include Canada from Alberta to Quebec, most of the contiguous United States, Mexico, Central America, the West Indies, and South America. It has been introduced to Japan, Palestine, and Israel. This is an annual plant that grows fully submerged in aquatic habitats including ponds, ditches, and streams. It produces a slender, branching stem that reaches a maximum length of 60 to 90 centimeters. Its thin, somewhat transparent, flexible leaves grow up to 3 centimeters long and only 1 or 2 millimeters wide, with edges lined with tiny, unicellular teeth. Tiny flowers grow in the leaf axils: staminate flowers develop toward the end of the plant, while pistillate flowers grow closer to the base. Due to its hardiness and growth rate that provides good shelter for aquarium fish, it is a popular aquarium plant for beginners.
