logo Calflora, a 501c3 non-profit
Taxon  Report  
Potamogeton epihydrus  Raf.
Ribbonleaf pondweed
Potamogeton epihydrus is a perennial herb (rhizomatous) that is native to California, and also found elsewhere in North America and beyond.
also called Potamogeton epihydrus ssp. nuttallii
California Rare Plant Rank: 2B.2 (rare, threatened, or endangered in CA; common elsewhere).
Siskiyou Del Norte Modoc Humboldt Shasta Lassen Trinity Plumas Tehama Butte Mendocino Glenn Sierra Yuba Lake Nevada Colusa Placer Sutter El Dorado Yolo Alpine Napa Sonoma Sacramento Mono Amador Solano Calaveras Tuolumne San Joaquin Marin Contra Costa Alameda Santa Cruz Mariposa Madera San Francisco San Mateo Merced Fresno Stanislaus Santa Clara Inyo San Benito Tulare Kings Monterey San Bernardino San Luis Obispo Kern Santa Barbara Ventura Los Angeles Riverside Orange San Diego Imperial
Observation Search
~81 records in California
yellowone or more occurrences
within a 7.5-minute quadrangle
DJJJASONAFMM

Bloom Period
Genus: Potamogeton
Family: Potamogetonaceae  
Category: angiosperm  
PLANTS group:Monocot
Jepson eFlora section: monocot

Wetlands: Occurs in wetlands

Habitat: freshwater-marsh

Communities: Freshwater Wetlands, wetland-riparian

Name Status:
Accepted by JEF + CNPS + PLANTS + POWO
Alternate Names:
JEF + CNPS + PLANTSPotamogeton epihydrus ssp. nuttallii
PLANTSPotamogeton epihydrus var. nuttallii
PLANTSPotamogeton epihydrus var. ramosus
Information about  Potamogeton epihydrus from other sources
Nursery availability from CNPLX
Commercial availability unknown.
Jepson eFlora

USDA PLANTS Profile (POEP2)

Photos on Calflora

Photos on CalPhotos

Google Images

Photos on iNaturalist

ID Tips on PlantID.net

[Wikipedia] Taxonomy: Potamogeton epihydrus (meaning 'on the water surface') was described by Rafinesque in 1808,[1] one of the earlier North American species to be named. (link added by Mary Ann Machi)


Suggested Citation
Calflora: Information on California plants for education, research and conservation, with data contributed by public and private institutions and individuals. [web application]. 2025. The Calflora Database [a non-profit organization]. Available: https://www.calflora.org/   (Accessed: 05/19/2025).