| Hippuris vulgaris | |
|---|---|
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Scientific classification | |
| Kingdom: | Plantae |
| Clade: | Tracheophytes |
| Clade: | Angiosperms |
| Clade: | Eudicots |
| Clade: | Asterids |
| Order: | Lamiales |
| Family: | Plantaginaceae |
| Genus: | Hippuris |
| Species: | H. vulgaris |
| Binomial name | |
| Hippuris vulgaris | |
Hippuris vulgaris (fromGreek:ἵππος –horse andοὐρά –tail), known asmare's-tail[2] orcommon mare's-tail, is a commonaquatic plant ofEurasia andNorth America ranging fromGreenland to theTibetan Plateau toArizona. It prefers non-acidic waters.
The common mare's tail is a creeping,perennialherb, found in shallow waters andmud flats. It roots underwater, but most of itsleaves are above the water surface. The leaves occur inwhorls of 6–12; those above water are 0.5 to 2.5 cm long and up to 3 mm wide, whereas those under water are thinner and limper, and longer than those above water, especially in deeperstreams. The stems are solid and unbranched but often curve, and can be up to 60 cm long. In shallow water they project 20–30 cm out of the water. It grows from stoutrhizomes. Theflowers are inconspicuous, and not all plants produce them. Studies ofH. vulgaris in the Tibetan Plateau have shown that it is a prolificmethane emitter.[3] The roots ofH. vulgaris extend into the anoxic zone of wetland soils and create a conduit for methane produced in the anoxic zone to travel to the atmosphere.[citation needed]
It can also be a troublesomeweed, obstructing the flow of water in rivers and ditches.[citation needed]
