Calflora
Taxon  Report   2901    
Elatine chilensis  Gay
Chilean waterwort
Elatine chilensis
© 2012 Keir Morse
Photos from
CalPhotos / Calflora
Elatine chilensis
© 2012 Keir Morse
Elatine chilensis
© 2012 Keir Morse
Elatine chilensis, a dicot, is an annual or perennial herb (aquatic) that is native to California, is also found elsewhere in North America and beyond.

Interactive Distribution Map


Observation Hotline
(observation details)



point, line, or polygon

Plant Characteristics
and Associations


Bloom Period
Elatine chilensis
© 2012 Keir Morse
Family: ELATINACEAE  
Genus: Elatine
Communities: Yellow Pine Forest, Red Fir Forest, Lodgepole Forest, Subalpine Forest, Foothill Woodland, Chaparral, Valley Grassland, (many plant communities), wetland-riparian

Wetlands: Occurs in wetlands

Name Status:
Accepted by JEF + PLANTS

Alternate Names:
ICPN + PLANTS: Elatine gracilis
More information about  Elatine chilensis
Nursery / seed vendor availability from CNPLX
Commercial availability unknown.
Landscaping information from Calscape
Photos on PlantID.net   /   Google Images
Jepson eFlora

Records from the Consortium of California Herbaria

ITIS Original Publication citation

USDA PLANTS Profile (ELCH)

Search the International Plants Names Index

Search efloras.org (Flora of North America)

website references from Google


Suggested Citation
Calflora: Information on California plants for education, research and conservation, with data contributed by public and private institutions and individuals, including the Consortium of California Herbaria. [web application]. 2019. Berkeley, California: The Calflora Database [a non-profit organization]. Available: https://www.calflora.org/   (Accessed: Jan 24, 2019).