Limosella australis R. Br.

Mudwort

• State Rank: S3
• Global Rank: G5
• State Status: Special Concern

Habitat: Fresh to brackish shores and wet sands. [Tidal wetland (non-forested, wetland)]

Range: Newfoundland, Gulf of St. Lawrence, south along coast to Virginia.

Aids to Identification: Mudwort is a small annual that grows in clumps of narrow, fleshy leaves (2-5 cm high) surrounding tiny, five-petalled, white flowers on naked pedicels. It may occur singly or in patches of clumps connected by above-mud runners.

Ecological characteristics: Mudwort is tolerant of both completely fresh and moderately saline water. In Maine, it most often grows in the mid to lower intertidal zone where it is completely submerged at high tide. Apparently preferring open mud, it usually has few immediate associates, but may form colonies of many plants a few centimeters apart, connected by the fragile runners.

Phenology: Flowers July - October.

Family: Scrophulariaceae

Synonyms: Limosella aquatica L. var. tenuifolia Hoffman; Limosella subulata Ives.

Known Distribution in Maine: This rare plant has been documented from a total of 20 town(s) in the following county(ies): Hancock, Knox, Lincoln, Penobscot, Sagadahoc, Waldo, York.

Reason(s) for rarity: Habitat naturally scarce, and in some areas declining.

Conservation considerations: Prevent degradation of estuary habitat from adjacent land uses.