Najas flexilis - (Willd.)Rostk.&F.Schmidt.
(Willd.)Rostk.&F.Schmidt.
Nodding waternymph
gbif· cc-by-nc
Emily Palahnuk
gbif· cc-by-nc
Emily Palahnuk
gbif· cc-by-nc
Emily Palahnuk
Description
Najas flexilis is a ANNUAL growing to 0.3 m (1ft). See above for USDA hardiness. It is hardy to UK zone 5. It is in flower from August to September. The species is monoecious (individual flowers are either male or female, but both sexes can be found on the same plant) and is pollinated by Water. Suitable for: light (sandy), medium (loamy) and heavy (clay) soils. Suitable pH: mildly acid, neutral and basic (mildly alkaline) soils and can grow in saline soils. It can grow in semi-shade (light woodland) or no shade. It can grow in water.
Edible Uses
Young shoots - raw or cooked. They are eaten like watercress.
Distribution
Nrthwestern Europe, including Britain. #eastern and western N. America.
Where It Grows
NORTHERN AMERICA: Canada (Québec, Nova Scotia, Ontario, Prince Edward Island, New Brunswick, Newfoundland and Labrador, Saskatchewan, Alberta, Manitoba, British Columbia), United States (Connecticut, Indiana, Maine, Massachusetts, Michigan, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New York, Ohio, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, Vermont, West Virginia, Iowa, Minnesota, North Dakota, South Dakota, Illinois, Wisconsin, Idaho, Montana, Oregon, Washington, Delaware, Kentucky, Maryland, Virginia, California, Utah) EUROPE: Denmark, Finland, United Kingdom, Ireland, Norway, Sweden, Switzerland, Germany, Poland, Russian Federation (European part), Estonia, Lithuania, Latvia
Cultivation
A water plant, succeeding in shallow fresh or brackish water. This is one of the few genera of plants where fertilization takes place under the surface of the water.
Propagation
Seed - we have no information on this species but suggest sowing the seed in situ as soon as it is ripe if this is possible. Otherwise store the seed in water in a cool place and sow in situ in the spring.
Other Uses
Fertilizer Packing. The plant is used as packing material to protect items packed in crates etc. The plant can also be used as a fertilizer.
