Hippuris vulgaris : Common Mare's-tail

Scientific Name:

Kingdom: Plantae

Division:

• Tracheophyta (vascular)
• Spermatophyta (seed bearing)
Angiospermae (enclosed seed)

Class: Dicoteldonae (two seed-leaves)

Family: Hippuridaceae (Mare's-tail Family)

Genera: Hippuris (Mare's-tail) (Gk. hippo=horse + ouros=tail;referring to the resemblence of the stems to a horse's tail)

Species: vulgaris (Lat. vulgaris=common, ordinary; referring to its huge range.)

English Name(s):

Common Mare's-tail,

First Nation Names:

Description:

Aquatic plants

Flowers perfect (bisexual), or imperfect (unisexual), not showy.

Stems stiff and erect emerging from the water.

Leaves whorled.

Natural History:

Closely related to the Haloragaceae (Water-milfoil Family). They used to be one.

Apparently only three very closely related species worldwide. Some taxonomists consider them all subspecies of H.vugaris.

Family Size:

World:

Genera: 1

Species: 3

North America:

Genera: 1

Species: 3

Yukon:

Genera: 1

Species: 3

Central Yukon:(CYSIP study area)

Genera: 1

Species: 1

Structure:

• Stems 10-40 cm tall (or more in deep water), up to 5 mm in diameter.

Leaves:

• 10-30 mm long (or longer in submerged part). 1-2 mm wide.
• In whorls around stem, 6-12 per whorl.
• Linear in shape with margins entire (smooth).

Reproductive Parts:

• Anther (male parts) 1 sticking out of flower top.
• Flower minute, not showy.
• Flowers mostly perfect (bisexual) from leaf axils.
• Sepals united with the ovary; Petals absent.

Seed:

• Fruit nutlike, indehiscent (not opening), 1-seeded.

Not to Be Confused With:

Physiology:

• The elongation of the submerged leaves is to catch more light in the reduced light environment under the water.

Life Cycle:

• Perennial.

Seasonal Cycle:

• Starting to flower mid-july.
• Stems and leaves deciduous. (dieing back).

Animal Uses:

• H.vulgaris (Mare's-tail) usually grows in dense colonies, providing shelter for aquatic life.
• The seeds and occasionally the leaves are eaten by wildlife.

Habitat:

• Shallow water in ponds, slow moving streams, and lakes.

Modern:

Industrial:

Medicinal:

Food:

Traditional Gwich'in:

Folklore:

Industrial:

Medicinal:

Food:

Traditional Other:

Folklore:

Industrial:

Medicinal:

Food: