Identity
Unique IDELEMENT_GLOBAL.2.149608
Element CodePDELT02030
Record TypeSPECIES
ClassificationSpecies
Classification StatusStandard
Name CategoryVascular Plant
IUCNLeast concern
Endemicoccurs (regularly, as a native taxon) in multiple nations
KingdomPlantae
PhylumAnthophyta
ClassDicotyledoneae
OrderTheales
FamilyElatinaceae
GenusElatine
SynonymsElatine triandra var. brachysperma(Gray)Fassett
Other Common NamesÉlatine à graines courtes (FR) shortseed waterwort (EN)
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 Date2024-07-09
Change Date1988-08-04
Edition Date2024-07-09
Edition AuthorsN. Ventrella (2024)
Threat ImpactUnknown
Range Extent>2,500,000 square km (greater than 1,000,000 square miles)
Number of Occurrences81 to >300
Rank ReasonsElatine brachysperma is an annual herb occurring along muddy shores or in shallow water in ponds, wetlands, or reservoirs in western North America from British Columbia, Canada south to California, east to Georgia, and north to Ohio in the United States, and also in Mexico and South America. Threats to this species likely include development, water diversion, alteration of hydrology, erosion, succession, recreational activities, and invasive species. However, with a large range extent, 81-300+ occurrences, and broad habitat preferences for abundant habitat, this species is considered secure.
Range Extent CommentsElatine brachysperma occurs in western North America from British Columbia, Canada south to California, east to Georgia, and north to Ohio in the United States (FNA 2016). This species also occurs in Baja, Mexico and South America in Argentina. Range extent was estimated to be over 5 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 specimens and photo-based observations documented between 1993 and 2024, it is estimated that there are 100 occurrences rangewide (GBIF 2024, iNaturalist 2024, SEINet 2024). However, given that there are minimal herbarium records, low collection effort due to perceived and real identification challenges, and limited annotations to affirm identifications of existing specimens, this estimate is certainly not representative of the species true abundance.
Threat Impact CommentsAlthough threats are not widely documented, Elatine brachysperma is likely threatened by development, water diversion, alteration of hydrology, erosion, succession, recreational activities, invasive species, and other threats in some places, though there is insufficient data, including anecdotal accounts, to understand scope and severity of threats for this species.