Proserpinaca pectinata Lam.

Comb Leaf Mermaidweed; Feathery Mermaidweed

Herb

Perennial

Vascular

Comb Leaf Mermaidweed is a native herbaceous perennial in the Water-Milfoil family (Haloragaceae). It is native to the southern third of Alabama. Comb Leaf Mermaidweed occurs in gum ponds, in pine flatwoods, in swamps, and in wet roadside ditches. It is a perennial with weakly ascending to erect stems that root at the lower nodes. The stems are glabrous and green in color. Stems are often submersed and emersed, with submersed stems and leaves often with a reddish or orange color. Leaves are alternate, ovate to ovate oblong in outline, glabrous, and pinnately divided into linear segments. Flowers are solitary in the upper leaf axils. Each flower has 3 triangular green calyx segments and no corolla. The fruit is a 3-locular, 3-angled nutlet. Comb Leaf Mermaidweed is similar to the more common and widespread Marsh Mermaidweed (Proserpinaca palustris Linnaeus). That species typically has leaves that are lanceolate and toothed, but both dissected and toothed leaves often occur on the same plant. In contrast all of the leaves of Comb Leaf Mermaidweed are pinnately divided. Comb Leaf Mermaidweed is sometimes grown as an aquarium plant and is available from nurseries who specialize in aquatic plants.—A. Diamond

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Native OBL (NWPL)

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