| Author | Planchon | |
| Distribution | More-or-less throughout the state, with the largest gaps in northern Piedmont and Mountains. First collected in NC in 1947 in Wake County.
Native of South America; in N.A. mostly in the Southeastern states and CA. | |
| Abundance | Uncommon to frequent; but no doubt overlooked. Appparently very rare in the northwestern Piedmont and parts of the Mountains. | |
| Habitat | Disturbed or nutrient-rich (including pollution) streams, rivers, impoundments, artificial ponds. | |
| Phenology | | |
| Identification | Closely resembles Elodea, but has leaves in whorls of 5+ (vs. 3) and flowers have 3 bright white petals. Closely resembles the federal noxious weed Hydrilla but leaves have extremely slender marginal prickles and lack prickles along midvein beneath. | |
| Taxonomic Comments | | |
| Other Common Name(s) | | |
| State Rank | SE | |
| Global Rank | G5 | |
| State Status | | |
| US Status | | |
| USACE-agcp | OBL link |
| USACE-emp | OBL link |
