Fern.
Identity
Unique IDELEMENT_GLOBAL.2.137985
Element CodePMPOT03160
Record TypeSPECIES
ClassificationSpecies
Classification StatusStandard
Name CategoryVascular Plant
Endemicoccurs (regularly, as a native taxon) in multiple nations
KingdomPlantae
PhylumAnthophyta
ClassMonocotyledoneae
OrderNajadales
FamilyPotamogetonaceae
GenusPotamogeton
Other Common Namesflatstem pondweed (EN) Potamot zostériforme (FR)
Concept ReferenceKartesz, J.T. 1994. A synonymized checklist of the vascular flora of the United States, Canada, and Greenland. 2nd edition. 2 vols. Timber Press, Portland, OR.
Conservation Status
Rank Method Rank calculation - Biotics v2
Review Date2024-10-03
Change Date1984-06-25
Edition Date2024-10-03
Edition AuthorsN. Ventrella (2024)
Threat ImpactUnknown
Range Extent>2,500,000 square km (greater than 1,000,000 square miles)
Number of Occurrences> 300
Rank ReasonsPotamogeton zosteriformis is a perennial aquatic forb occurring in backwaters, bays, rivers, lakes, marshes, ponds, streams, and washes of North America from Alaska and the Northwest Territories south to California, east to New Jersey, and north to Newfoundland and Labrador in the United States and Canada. There are over 500 occurrences of this taxon, which are threatened by threatened by invasive species, aquatic herbicides, recreation, eutrophication, alteration of hydrology, development, and other threats in some places. Little is known about threats or trends, but with a large range extent, high number of occurrences, abundant habitat, broad habitat preferences, and no obvious intrinsic vulnerabilities, Potamogeton zosteriformis is considered secure.
Range Extent CommentsPotamogeton zosteriformis occurs in North America from Alaska and the Northwest Territories south to California, east to New Jersey, and north to Newfoundland and Labrador in the United States and Canada (FNA 2000). Range extent was estimated to be over 10 million square kilometers using herbarium specimens and photo-based observations documented between 1993 and 2024 (GBIF 2024, iNaturalist 2024, SEINet 2024).
Occurrences CommentsBy applying a 1 km separation distance to herbarium records and photo-based observations documented between 1993 and 2024, there are estimated to be over 500 occurrences rangewide (GBIF 2024, iNaturalist 2024, SEINet 2024).
Threat Impact CommentsAlthough threats are not widely documented, Potamogeton zosteriformis is threatened by invasive species, aquatic herbicides, recreation, eutrophication, alteration of hydrology, development, and other threats in some places, though there is insufficient data, including anecdotal accounts, to understand scope and severity of threats for this species (NatureServe 2024).