Citation: L., Sp. Pl. 1015 (1753).

Synonymy: V. nana R. Br., Prod. Fl. Nov. Holl. 345 (1810); V. gigantea Graebner, Bol. Jb. 49:68 (1913).

Common name: Ribbonweed, eel-grass, eelweed.

Description:
Perennial, submerged, with a stolon; leaves in tufts along the stolons, long, linear, usually minutely toothed towards the apex, to 2 (rarely 6) m long, with 5-9 main longitudinal veins.

Male flowers less than 1 mm long, many within a spathe 1-2 cm long, anthers 2 or 3; female flowers 1.5-2.5 cm long, sessile and solitary within a spathe 1.5-2 cm long, at the end of a long peduncle, after pollination the female peduncles coil spirally, petals minute.

Published illustration: Sainty & Jacobs (1981) Waterplants of New South Wales, pp. 248, 250.

Distribution:    All States.   Europe, Africa and Asia. Conservation status: native Flowering time: Nov. — May.

SA Distribution Map based on current data relating to specimens held in the State Herbarium of South Australia

Biology: The female flowers are carried to the surface by the elongation of the peduncles so that only the stigmas emerge. The pollen is carried by the male flowers which drift free on the surface.

Taxonomic notes: If the species is correctly identified it occurs in the above countries and regions of S. Aust. However, Den Hartog (1957) in Fl. Males. 5:381-413 considered the Australian material belonged to V. gigantea which he separated from V. spiralis. H. I. Aston (1973) did not accept this and her decision is tentatively followed here.

Author: Not yet available