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Wild Celery (Valisneria americana)
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| Wild celery (Valisneria americana) is an important food source for waterfowl.
Courtesy: Maryland Department of Natural Resources |
What
type of habitat does wild celery prefer?
Wild celery prefers freshwater, but can occur in some brackish systems (fresh
and salt water mixed).
Where can it be found in the coastal U.S.?
Wild celery can be found in coastal freshwater inlets or waterways, as well
as estuaries and waterways that are tidally influenced with brackish water.
This plant is found across the eastern U.S. and the Gulf of Mexico. Some
plants have been reported in western states.
What does wild celery look like?
Wild celery has long, strap-shaped leaves that can grow 2 meters in length
or longer. This species may come in two forms, a broad leafed form whose
leaves are 10 to 25 millimeters wide, and a narrow-leaved form whose leaves
are less than 10 millimeters wide.
Why is it an important benthic species?
Many species of recreationally important waterfowl, particularly the canvasback
duck, depend on this species as a source of food.
Did you know…?
This plant is negatively impacted by the spread of several invasive species,
including Eurasian milfoil (Myriophyllum spicatum) in colder waters, and
hydrilla (Hydrilla verticillata) in warmer waters. Milfoil directly competes
with water celery for light and substrate, and hydrilla forms dense canopies
on the water's surface that shades out water celery growing below.
Where can I find more information?
Reference
Korschgen, Carl E. and William L. Green. 1988. American wildcelery
(Vallisneria americana): Ecological considerations for restoration. U.S.
Fish and Wildlife Service, Fish and Wildlife Technical Report 19.
Jamestown, ND: Northern Prairie Wildlife Research Center Online.
http://www.npwrc.usgs.gov/resource/plants/wildcel/index.htm (Version 16JUL97).
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