Littorella uniflora

Littorella uniflora
Scientific classification
Kingdom: Plantae
Clade: Tracheophytes
Clade: Angiosperms
Clade: Eudicots
Clade: Asterids
Order: Lamiales
Family: Plantaginaceae
Genus: Littorella
Species:
L. uniflora
Binomial name
Littorella uniflora
Synonyms
  • Littorella juncea P.J.Bergius
  • Littorella lacustris L.
  • Plantago uniflora L.

Littorella uniflora (vernacular name: (American) shoreweed) is a species of aquatic flowering plant native to the Azores, Morocco, most of Europe excluding the dry southeast, Iceland, and the Faroes. It prefers to live mostly submerged in nutrient-poor freshwater habitats. When submerged, it draws CO2 mostly through its roots and uses a mix of crassulacean acid metabolism (CAM) and C3 carbon fixation for photosynthesis. If the water level drops and exposes the roots, it ceases using CAM.