Synonym: Zannichellia major
Plant Family: Zannichelliaceae
Wetland Indicator Status: OBL
Horned Pondweed (Zannichellia palustris) is a small submergent aquatic plant typically found in shallow water with a sandy substrate. It has small seeds that grow in a cluster that somewhat resemble a bunch of tiny bananas. Horned Pondweed is a good source of food for waterfowl. Being small this plant is often overlooked during plant surveys. Molecular data indicates this plant should be included with the Potamogetonaceae.
A clump of Horned Pondweed.
Horned Pondweed Zannichellia palustris growing in only a few inches of water. You can see in this photo that it is spreading along runners.