PlantFiles: Eel Grass, Eelgrass, Tape Grass, American Wild Celery
Vallisneria americana

The odd thing is that this species will thrive even in woodland shade - I have several babies root themselves in pebbles in a few location in my artifical pond - they also send up tiny white flowers that are above the water level - they also are one of a few total underwater plant I have so far that will grow after being in ice most of winter, or in water with high tannin contents (leach from lots of leaves during winter) and also rough handling and temporary drying out during spring cleanups. In the wild I have seen them so far only on the moderate sized rivers like Rum River in Minnesota - both lower and near Mille Lacs Lake. Natural lakes and ponds seem to have none - choked out completely by hornworts and other pondweeds.

This plant is great for use in ponds, too. I have several pots of it submerged at the base of the water fall. The Koi use it to spawn in and the baby fish, tadpoles, etc, use it for hiding. The Koi will munch on this but I don't have a lot of problem with mine because they are well fed and have plenty of algae to eat.

Plentiful in the lower littoral zone of the Mississippi River (Illinois and Iowa borders)

This plant is found all over the East Coast and most of the US and a good portion of Canada too in places like ponds, lakes, bayous, springs, sandy river bottoms, lagoons, canals, and streams. It's a freshwater plant but is found in water bodies with high levels of salt.

The plant provides shelter, food and even oxygen for fish and birds, mammals and other plants. It's also prevents erosion.

Very important plant so if you have a submersible lawn mower, don't mow it down.