American Eelgrass (Vallisneria americana)
Description
Vallisneria americana,commonly called wild celery,water-celery,tape grass,or eelgrass,is a plant in the family Hydrocharitaceae,the "tape-grasses".V.americana is a fresh water species that can tolerate salt,living in salinities varying from fresh water (0 parts per thousand) to 18 parts per thousand,although the limit to the salt tolerance is unclear,and is generally dependent on the duration and intensity of the plants exposure to the saline water V.americana is a deep rooted plant with leaves,approximately one inch wide,with the ability to rise two or more meters above the clustered base of the plant.Contrary to the implications of one of its common names,wild celery bears little to no resemblance to the celery used as a vegetable.Vallisneria americana grows under water and is consumed by various animals,including the canvasback.The plants themselves are long,limp,flat,and have a green mid-ridge.Despite its name,it is not restricted to the Americas.It occurs naturally in Iraq,China,Japan,Korea,India,Papua New Guinea,the Philippines,Australia,Canada,the United States,Mexico,Guatemala,Honduras,Cuba,the Dominican Republic,Haiti and Venezuela.It is found primarily in eastern North America,occurring west from Nova Scotia to South Dakota and South to the Gulf of Mexico.It has also been reported in the western states of Washington,Nebraska,New Mexico and Arizona.Vallisneria americana is cultivated for the aquarium trade,where it is a sold as a background plant.
Taxonomic tree
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Domain: Eukarya
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Kingdom: Plantae
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Phylum: Magnoliophyta
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Class: Liliopsida
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Order: Alismatales
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Family: Hydrocharitaceae
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Genus: Vallisneria
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