Littorella uniflora

Photo © Carl Farmer
6 Aug 2003 Dunvegan

Common in and around the edges of lochs and slow-moving areas of rivers.

Flower stamens 1-2 cm long (pic on left) Leaves c 2-10 cm long

Skye ID: Unmistakable when flowering, which it only does when not underwater. Non-flowering underwater rosettes id'd by: Leaves with one side flat and the other rounded (or approximating to this), with a transparent brownish sheathing stipule at base. Leaves spongy inside, not hollow.

Other features: Each rosette has 1 conspicuous long-stalked male flower with 4 long stamens, and about 1-4 female flowers at the base of its stalk. Forms close carpets on loch shores and down to 4 m depth.

Photo © Carl Farmer 13 Jul 2003 Sligachan		Photo © Carl Farmer 5 Aug 2003 Storr Leaf on left 5.5 cm
Loose plants are often found floating (right, with a background of growing submerged Shoreweed) or washed up (above). Some populations have longer and thinner leaves than others as is seen from these two specimens.		Photo © Carl Farmer 5 Aug 2003 Storr Leaf on left 5.5 cm

Photo © Carl Farmer 13 Jul 2003 Sligachan		Photo © Carl Farmer 13 Jul 2003 Sligachan
The above 3 pictures are of submerged plants

Skye Flora