Stem: The short, slender stems arise from joints on the creeping, horizontal rhizomes.

Flower: Male and female flowers are on separate plants. Tiny male flowers (1 mm) produced at the plant base are released to float on the water surface. Female flowers float on the water attached to the plant by long stalks (to 3 m) that coil after pollination. Pollination takes place when male flowers float into female flowers. Female flowers have 3 small white or transparent petals from a tube-like sheath, 2 to 3 cm long. 

Fruit: Cylindrical, slightly curved pods, 5 to 10 cm long. Each contains many tiny seeds in a gelatinous material. Seeds are released into the water when fruits decay.

Root: Slender, fibrous roots arise from horizontal rhizomes.

Propagation: Seeds, rhizomes. 

Importance of plant: Leaves, fruits, and rootstocks are excellent food for waterfowl. Also provides habitat for fish and invertebrates. Has been used to monitor pollution levels in eastern rivers.

Distribution: Native to eastern North America. Introduced to several Washington lakes, but generally does not cause problems. Also in Mexico, Central America, Asia, Australia, and the Caribbean.

Habitat: Ponds, lakes, and quiet streams at depths of 1 to 4 m. 

May be confused with: Bur-reeds (Sparganium), submersed leaves of duck potato (Sagittaria), northern mannagrass (Glyceria borealis), and wild rice (Zizania aquatica), which all can have long, ribbon-like underwater leaves, but do not have the distinctive midrib or the coiled fruit stalk of tapegrass.

Photographs: Closeup of the coiled flower stalk of Vallisneria americana

Line Drawings: Vallisneria americana