Sometimes the flowering structures of aquatic plants are tiny, and therefore seldom seen, so it was with great excitement that I observed coontail (Ceratophyllum demersum) flowers recently. The plant is native to North America but now has a universal distribution thanks to the aquarium trade.
The flowers glowed red in the sunlight, like shining raspberries! They are completely submersed, so the pollen from the male flowers needs to sink down onto the female flowers, with currents facilitating cross pollination.
I was also thrilled to find this seldom noticed flower of Elodea nutallii (Slender waterweed) on its slender, floppy stalk, though I forgot to add my ruler for scale.
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