Potamogeton pusillus in Genus Potamogeton

Details Top

Internal ID	UUID64402693e1b1d383238301
Scientific name	Potamogeton pusillus
Authority	L.
First published in	Sp. Pl. : 127 (1753)

Ethnobotanical Use Top

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General Uses Top

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Common products:
- The plant is cultivated and marketed as a live aquarium plant for freshwater aquaria. Commercial nurseries and hobbyist retailers supply it in the form of rooted cuttings, whole clumps, or rooted mats, typically under trade names such as “fine‑leaf pondweed” or “Potamogeton pusillus”. Its delicate, feathery foliage provides oxygenation, shelter for fish and invertebrates, and a natural backdrop in aquascaping. The species is favored for low‑maintenance setups, rapid establishment in diverse water chemistry, and its ability to form dense, visually pleasing stands that compete with algae for nutrients.

Properties relevant to use:
- P. pusillus reproduces vegetatively by rhizome fragmentation, enabling rapid propagation under controlled conditions. It tolerates temperature ranges of 4–25 °C, light intensities from low ambient to moderate intensity, and a wide spectrum of water hardness values, allowing cultivation in both soft and moderately hard aquaria. The plant’s thin cuticle and high surface‑area‑to‑biomass ratio support efficient gas exchange, and its capacity to form dense mats stabilizes sediments. Laboratory growth trials consistently report fast biomass accumulation, making it suitable for hobbyist and research tanks where quick cover is desired.

Scientific and model‑organism use:
- The species is employed in controlled experiments on nutrient uptake, carbon sequestration, and eutrophication responses of submerged macrophytes. Its small stature and simple morphology facilitate whole‑plant measurements of photosynthesis, respiration, and ion transport, and it serves as a standard test organism in ecotoxicology for evaluating the effects of pollutants on macrophyte physiology. Ongoing genomic initiatives list P. pusillus among aquatic plants with draft genome assemblies, providing a reference for comparative studies of flowering‑plant evolution and adaptation to aquatic habitats. It is also used in mesocosm studies investigating interspecific competition and in simulations of climate‑change impacts on freshwater plant communities.

Sustainability and sourcing:
- The IUCN Red List classifies P. pusillus as “Least Concern”, and the plant occurs widely across temperate and subtropical regions. Commercial supply is primarily met through cultivated propagation in hatcheries and greenhouse systems, which reduces pressure on wild populations. Where wild harvesting occurs, regional wildlife regulations typically permit limited collection, with recommendations to avoid large‑scale removal and to leave sufficient individuals for natural regeneration. Cultivation on floating rafts or in recirculating raceways is increasingly adopted by growers, further promoting sustainable sourcing for the aquarium trade.

Synonyms Top

Scientific name	Authority	First published in
Potamogeton trinervius	G.Fisch.	Ber. Bayer. Bot. Ges. 11: 29 (1907)
Potamogeton turionifer	Hagstr.	Kongl. Svenska Vetensk. Acad. Handl. , n.s., 55(5): 91 (1916)
Potamogeton badius	Hagstr.	Kongl. Svenska Vetensk. Acad. Handl. , n.s., 55(5): 104 (1916)
Potamogeton pusilliformis	Hagstr.	Kongl. Svenska Vetensk. Acad. Handl. , n.s., 55(5): 97 (1916)
Potamogeton subjavanicus	Hagstr.	Kongl. Svenska Vetensk. Acad. Handl. , n.s., 55(5): 129 (1916)
Potamogeton dualis	Hagstr.	Kongl. Svenska Vetensk. Acad. Handl. , n.s., 55(5): 103 (1916)
Potamogeton exiguus	Hagstr.	Kongl. Svenska Vetensk. Acad. Handl. , n.s., 55(5): 106 (1916)
Potamogeton millardii	Heslop Harrison	Proc. Univ. Durham Philos. Soc. 10: 365 (1942)
Spirillus pusillus	Nieuwl.	Amer. Midl. Naturalist 3: 18 (1913)
Potamogeton panormitanus var. minor	Biv. ex Guss.	Fl. Sicul. Syn. 1: 207 (1842)
Potamogeton pusillus var. pseudorutilus	A.Benn.	J. Bot. 39: 201 (1901)
Potamogeton turionifer var. tenuis	Hagstr.	Kongl. Svenska Vetensk. Acad. Handl. , n.s., 55(5): 91 (1916)
Potamogeton turionifer var. mucronulatus	Hagstr.	Kongl. Svenska Vetensk. Acad. Handl. , n.s., 55(5): 91 (1916)
Potamogeton pusillus var. panormitanus	(Biv.) Nyman	Consp. Fl. Eur. 683 1882
Potamogeton lateralis f. subcompletus	Hagstr.	Kongl. Svenska Vetensk. Acad. Handl. , n.s., 55(5): 127 (1916)
Potamogeton pusillus subsp. argentinus	A.Benn.	J. Bot. 46: 250 (1908)
Potamogeton pusillus var. elongatus	A.Benn.	Cat. Canad. Pl. 5: 371 (1890)
Potamogeton pusillus var. capitatus	A.Benn.	J. Bot. 39: 201 (1901)
Potamogeton pusillus subsp. sturrockii	A.Benn.	Pflanzenr. (Engler) 4, Fam. 11: 117. 1907
Potamogeton pusillus var. tenuifolius	K.Schum.	Fl. Bras. 3(3): 692 (1894)
Potamogeton pusillus var. lacunatus	Fernald	Mem. Gray Herb. 3: 85 (1932)
Potamogeton pusillus var. sphaerocarpus	K.Schum.	Fl. Bras. 3(3): 692 (1894)
Potamogeton pusillus var. minor	(Biv. ex Guss.) Fernald & B.G.Schub.	Rhodora 50: 154 (1949)
Potamogeton pusillus var. longepedunculatus	Hicken	Anales Soc. Ci. Argent. 65: 295 (1908)
Potamogeton lateralis f. incompletus	Hagstr.	Kongl. Svenska Vetensk. Acad. Handl. , n.s., 55(5): 127 (1916)
Potamogeton aschersonii f. pusilloides	Hagstr.	Kongl. Svenska Vetensk. Acad. Handl. , n.s., 55(5): 112 (1916)
Potamogeton compressus var. elongatus	Wahlenb.	Fl. Suec. 1: 107 (1824)
Buccaferrea pusilla	Bubani	Fl. Pyren. 4: 16 (1901)
Potamogeton aschersonii	A.Benn.	J. Bot. 31: 294 (1893)
Potamogeton berteroanus	Phil.	Linnaea 30: 200 (1859)
Potamogeton caespitosus	Humn.	Cat. Pl. Luxeuil : 60 (1876)
Potamogeton denticulatus	Link	Phys. Beschr. Canar. Ins. : 138 (1828)
Potamogeton panormitanus	Biv.	Nuove Pianti : 6 (1838)
Potamogeton reichenbachii	Lohr ex Beurl.	Bot. Not. 1853: 90 (1853)
Potamogeton sturrockii	A.Benn.	Scott. Naturalist (Perth) , n.s., 1: 27 (1883)
Potamogeton subtrichodes	Schur	Enum. Pl. Transsilv. : 633 (1866)
Potamogeton tenuissimus	Lohr ex Beurl.	Bot. Not. 1853: 90.
Potamogeton tenuissimus	Hook.f.	Trans. Linn. Soc. London 23(2): 342. 1861 [14 Dec 1861]
Potamogeton pusillus var. africanus	A.Benn.	Annuaire Conserv. Jard. Bot. Genève 9: 102. 1905
Potamogeton rutilus subsp. caespitosus	(Humn.) Nyman	Consp. Fl. Eur. Suppl. 2: 288. 1890 (1890)
Potamogeton panormitanus var. major	G.Fisch.	Ber. Bayer. Bot. Ges. 11: 109. 1907
Potamogeton panormitanus var. minor	Biv.	Barone Ant. Biv. -Bern. 6 1838
Potamogeton pusillus var. panormitanus	Morong	Mem. Torrey Bot. Club 3, no. 2: 46. 1893
Potamogeton tenuissimus	(Mert. & W.D.J.Koch) Rchb.	Icon. Fl. Germ. Helv. 7: 14. 1845 (1845)
Potamogeton gracilis	Fr.	Novit. Fl. Suec. Alt. : 50 (1828)
Potamogeton tenuifolius	F.Phil.	Anales Mus. Nac. Santiago de Chile 1891(App.): 95 (1891)
Potamogeton trichoides	Benth.	Pl. Hartw. : 341 (1857)
Potamogeton pusillus subvar. interruptus	J.W.Robbins	Botany [Fortieth Parallel] : 338 (1871)
Potamogeton pusillus var. latifolius	G.Mey.	Chloris Han. : 525 (1836)
Potamogeton pusillus var. typicus	Fernald	Mem. Gray Herb. 3: 81 (1932)
Potamogeton pusillus var. vulgaris	Fr.	Novit. Fl. Suec. Alt. : 49 (1828)
Potamogeton pusillus var. panormitanus	Graebn.	Pflanzenr. (Engler) 4, Fam. 11: 116. 1907
Potamogeton pusillus var. capillaris	Gaudin	Fl. Helv. 1: 479 (1828)
Potamogeton pusillus subsp. sturrockii	(A.Benn.) Hook.f.	Student. Fl. Brit. Isl. , ed. 3: 435 (1884)
Potamogeton pusillus var. latifolius	Čelak.	Prodr. Fl. Böhmen : 23 (1867)
Potamogeton pusillus prol. panormitanus	(Biv.) Graebn.	Pflanzenr. , IV, 11: 116 (1907)
Potamogeton pusillus var. major	Fr.	Novit. Fl. Suec. Alt. : 48 (1828)
Potamogeton pusillus subsp. panormitanus	(Biv.) Schinz & R.Keller	Fl. Schweiz , ed. 3, 2: 16 (1914)

Common names Top

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Filter by language:

Language	Common/alternative name
English	small pondweed
English	lesser pondweed
Belarusian	урэчнік маленькі
Belarusian	рдзест маленькі
Bulgarian	дребен ръждавец
Catalan	potamot fluet
Czech	rdest maličký
Welsh	dyfrllys eiddil
German	gewöhnliches zwerg-laichkraut
Estonian	väike penikeel
Persian	بارهنگ نازک
Finnish	hentovita
French	potamot fluet
French	potamot nain
French	potamot de palerme
Upper Sorbian	mólička dróstnica
Lithuanian	potamot fluet
Latvian	sīkā glīvene
Norwegian Bokmål	granntjørnaks
Dutch	tenger fonteinkruid
Norwegian Nynorsk	granntjønnaks
Polish	rdestnica drobna
Romanian	broscăriță
Swedish	spädnate
Swedish	potamot fluet
Ukrainian	рдесник маленький
Chinese	线叶眼子菜
Chinese	丝藻
Chinese	柳絲藻
Chinese	小眼子菜

Subspecies (abbr. subsp./ssp.) Top

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Varieties (abbr. var.) Top

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Subvarieties (abbr. subvar.) Top

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Forms (abbr. f.) Top

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Germination/Propagation Top

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Distribution (via POWO/KEW) Top

Legend for the distribution data:

- Doubtful data

- Extinct

- Introduced

- Native

Africa click to expand
- East Tropical Africa
  - Kenya
  - Tanzania
  - Uganda
- Macaronesia
  - Azores
  - Canary Islands
  - Cape Verde
  - Madeira
- Northeast Tropical Africa
  - Eritrea
  - Ethiopia
  - Somalia
  - Sudan
- Northern Africa
  - Algeria
  - Egypt
  - Libya
  - Morocco
- South Tropical Africa
  - Malawi
  - Mozambique
  - Zambia
  - Zimbabwe
- Southern Africa
  - Botswana
  - Cape Provinces
  - Caprivi Strip
  - Free State
  - Kwazulu-Natal
  - Lesotho
  - Namibia
  - Northern Provinces
  - Swaziland
- West Tropical Africa
  - Mauritania
- West-central Tropical Africa
  - Rwanda
  - Zaïre

Asia-temperate click to expand
- Arabian Peninsula
  - Oman
  - Saudi Arabia
  - Yemen
- Caucasus
  - North Caucasus
  - Transcaucasus
- China
  - China North-central
  - China South-central
  - China Southeast
  - Inner Mongolia
  - Manchuria
  - Qinghai
  - Tibet
  - Xinjiang
- Eastern Asia
  - Japan
  - Nansei-shoto
  - Taiwan
- Middle Asia
  - Kazakhstan
  - Kirgizstan
  - Tadzhikistan
  - Turkmenistan
  - Uzbekistan
- Mongolia
  - Mongolia
- Russian Far East
  - Khabarovsk
  - Primorye
- Siberia
  - Altay
  - Buryatiya
  - Chita
  - Irkutsk
  - Krasnoyarsk
  - Tuva
  - West Siberia
  - Yakutskiya
- Western Asia
  - Afghanistan
  - Cyprus
  - East Aegean Islands
  - Iran
  - Iraq
  - Palestine
  - Turkey

Asia-tropical click to expand
- Indian Subcontinent
  - India
  - Nepal
  - Pakistan
  - West Himalaya
- Indo-China
  - Myanmar
- Malesia
  - Philippines
- Papuasia
  - New Guinea

Europe click to expand
- Eastern Europe
  - Baltic States
  - Belarus
  - Central European Russia
  - East European Russia
  - Krym
  - North European Russia
  - Northwest European Russia
  - South European Russia
  - Ukraine
- Middle Europe
  - Austria
  - Belgium
  - Czechoslovakia
  - Germany
  - Hungary
  - Netherlands
  - Poland
  - Switzerland
- Northern Europe
  - Denmark
  - Finland
  - Great Britain
  - Iceland
  - Ireland
  - Norway
  - Sweden
- Southeastern Europe
  - Bulgaria
  - Greece
  - Italy
  - Kriti
  - Romania
  - Sicilia
  - Turkey-in-Europe
  - Yugoslavia
- Southwestern Europe
  - Baleares
  - Corse
  - France
  - Portugal
  - Sardegna
  - Spain

Northern America click to expand
- Eastern Canada
  - New Brunswick
  - Nova Scotia
  - Ontario
  - Prince Edward Island
  - Québec
- Mexico
  - Mexico Central
  - Mexico Gulf
  - Mexico Northeast
  - Mexico Northwest
  - Mexico Southeast
  - Mexico Southwest
- North-central U.S.A.
  - Illinois
  - Iowa
  - Kansas
  - Minnesota
  - Missouri
  - Nebraska
  - North Dakota
  - Oklahoma
  - South Dakota
  - Wisconsin
- Northeastern U.S.A.
  - Connecticut
  - Indiana
  - Maine
  - Massachusetts
  - Michigan
  - New Hampshire
  - New Jersey
  - New York
  - Ohio
  - Pennsylvania
  - Rhode Island
  - Vermont
  - West Virginia
- Northwestern U.S.A.
  - Colorado
  - Idaho
  - Montana
  - Oregon
  - Washington
  - Wyoming
- South-central U.S.A.
  - New Mexico
  - Texas
- Southeastern U.S.A.
  - Alabama
  - Arkansas
  - Delaware
  - District Of Columbia
  - Florida
  - Georgia
  - Kentucky
  - Louisiana
  - Maryland
  - Mississippi
  - North Carolina
  - South Carolina
  - Tennessee
  - Virginia
- Southwestern U.S.A.
  - Arizona
  - California
  - Nevada
  - Utah
- Subarctic America
  - Alaska
  - Greenland
  - Northwest Territorie
  - Yukon
- Western Canada
  - Alberta
  - British Columbia
  - Manitoba
  - Saskatchewan

Southern America click to expand
- Brazil
  - Brazil Northeast
  - Brazil South
  - Brazil Southeast
  - Brazil West-central
- Caribbean
  - Haiti
- Central America
  - Costa Rica
  - Guatemala
  - Honduras
  - Nicaragua
- Northern South America
  - Venezuela
- Southern South America
  - Argentina Northeast
  - Argentina Northwest
  - Chile Central
  - Chile North
  - Uruguay
- Western South America
  - Bolivia
  - Colombia
  - Ecuador
  - Peru

Links to other databases Top

Suggest others/fix!

Database	ID/link to page
World Flora Online	wfo-0000769966
Florida Plant Atlas	2088
Flora of Alabama	5176
Canadensys	8315
USDA Plants	POPU7
Tropicos	26300111
INPN	115305
Flora of Italy	6715
KEW	urn:lsid:ipni.org:names:208919-2
The Plant List	kew-308698
Open Tree Of Life	30681
Observations.org	7245
NCBI Taxonomy	246702
NBN Atlas	NBNSYS0000002138
Nature Serve	2.128182
IUCN Red List	163982
IPNI	208919-2
iNaturalist	78714
IFPNI	8FF25DCA-9413-414A-9AEA-04AEFA56FE49
GBIF	5301227
Freebase	/m/0bmhgkk
WisFlora	4632
EPPO	PTMPU
EOL	1115944
Elurikkus	6533
Calflora (Californian flora)	6820
USDA GRIN	400300
Wikipedia	Potamogeton_pusillus

Genomes (via NCBI) Top

Below is displayed the reference genome only!
If you wish to browse all genomes for this plant click here.

Accession	Assembly
Accession	Name	Level	Submitter	Released	Coverage	Size
GCA_965644125.1	laPotPusi1.hap1.1	Chromosome	WELLCOME SANGER INSTITUTE	2025-07-27	63	271.31 Mb

Scientific Literature Top

Below are displayed the latest 15 articles published in PMC (PubMed Central®) and other sources (DOI number only)!
If you wish to see all the related articles click here.

Title

Authors

Publication

Released

IDs

Plant traits associated with seed dispersal by ducks and geese in urban and natural habitats

Tóth P, Green AJ, Wilkinson DM, Brides K, Lovas‐Kiss Á

Ecol Evol

22-Nov-2023

PMCID:	PMC10663722
doi:	10.1002/ece3.10677
PMID:	38020707

New Data on Native and Alien Vascular Flora of Sicily (Italy): New Findings and Updates

Cambria S, Azzaro D, Caldarella O, Aleo M, Bazan G, Guarino R, Torre G, Cristaudo AE, Ilardi V, La Rosa A, Laface VL, Luchino F, Mascia F, Minissale P, Sciandrello S, Tosetto L, Tavilla G

Plants (Basel)

23-Apr-2023

PMCID:	PMC10181230
doi:	10.3390/plants12091743
PMID:	37176800

The use of the primary structure of the ITS1–ITS2 region for species identification in some submerged aquatic macrophytes of the genus Stuckenia

Mglinets AV, Kosterin ОE

Vavilovskii Zhurnal Genet Selektsii

01-Apr-2023

PMCID:	PMC10090118
doi:	10.18699/VJGB-23-21
PMID:	37063516

Evolutionary history and patterns of geographical variation, fertility, and hybridization in Stuckenia (Potamogetonaceae)

Fehrer J, Nagy Nejedlá M, Hellquist CB, Bobrov AA, Kaplan Z

Front Plant Sci

03-Nov-2022

PMCID:	PMC9670304
doi:	10.3389/fpls.2022.1042517
PMID:	36407593

The Enzymatic Antioxidants Activities Changes in Water Plants Tissues Exposed to Chlorpyrifos Stress

Sobiecka E, Mroczkowska M, Olejnik TP

Antioxidants (Basel)

25-Oct-2022

PMCID:	PMC9686717
doi:	10.3390/antiox11112104
PMID:	36358476

Phytoremediation of Heavy Metals: An Indispensable Contrivance in Green Remediation Technology

Sabreena, Hassan S, Bhat SA, Kumar V, Ganai BA, Ameen F

Plants (Basel)

06-May-2022

PMCID:	PMC9104525
doi:	10.3390/plants11091255
PMID:	35567256

A new pattern of parasitism in water mites (Hydrachnidia)? An insight into their relationships with pupae of caddisflies (Trichoptera)

Zawal A, Buczyńska E, Malicka R, Buczyński P, Stępień E

Int J Parasitol Parasites Wildl

10-Apr-2022

PMCID:	PMC9019917
doi:	10.1016/j.ijppaw.2022.04.001
PMID:	35464629

Adsorption Behavior and Dynamic Interactions of Anionic Acid Blue 25 on Agricultural Waste

Shahrin EW, Narudin NA, Shahri NN, Verinda SB, Nur M, Hobley J, Usman A

Molecules

06-Mar-2022

PMCID:	PMC8911607
doi:	10.3390/molecules27051718
PMID:	35268818

Anthropogenic Stressors in Upland Rivers: Aquatic Macrophyte Responses. A Case Study from Bulgaria

Gecheva G, Pall K, Todorov M, Traykov I, Gribacheva N, Stankova S, Birk S

Plants (Basel)

09-Dec-2021

PMCID:	PMC8703415
doi:	10.3390/plants10122708
PMID:	34961179

Re-Establishment Techniques and Transplantations of Charophytes to Support Threatened Species

Blindow I, Carlsson M, van de Weyer K

Plants (Basel)

03-Sep-2021

PMCID:	PMC8470995
doi:	10.3390/plants10091830
PMID:	34579363

Aquatic Macrophytes Occurrence in Mediterranean Farm Ponds: Preliminary Investigations in North-Western Sicily (Italy)

Panzeca P, Troia A, Madonia P

Plants (Basel)

25-Jun-2021

PMCID:	PMC8308995
doi:	10.3390/plants10071292
PMID:	34201972

Status and consolidated list of threatened medicinal plants of India

Gowthami R, Sharma N, Pandey R, Agrawal A

Genet Resour Crop Evol

25-May-2021

PMCID:	PMC8148398
doi:	10.1007/s10722-021-01199-0
PMID:	34054223

Wetland Restoration with Hydrophytes: A Review

Rodrigo MA

Plants (Basel)

21-May-2021

PMCID:	PMC8223994
doi:	10.3390/plants10061035
PMID:	34063930

Successional dynamics of a 35 year old freshwater mitigation wetland in southeastern New Hampshire

McKown JG, Moore GE, Payne AR, White NA, Gibson JL

PLoS One

17-May-2021

PMCID:	PMC8128273
doi:	10.1371/journal.pone.0251748
PMID:	33999932

Restored freshwater flow and estuarine benthic communities in the northern Gulf of Mexico: research trends and future needs

Tupitza JC, Glaspie CN

PeerJ

21-Feb-2020

PMCID:	PMC7039121
doi:	10.7717/peerj.8587
PMID:	32117631

Phytochemical Profile Top

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Potamogeton pusillus

Table of Contents

Details Top

Ethnobotanical Use Top

General Uses Top

Synonyms Top

Common names Top

Subspecies (abbr. subsp./ssp.) Top

Varieties (abbr. var.) Top

Subvarieties (abbr. subvar.) Top

Forms (abbr. f.) Top

Germination/Propagation Top

Distribution (via POWO/KEW) Top

Links to other databases Top

Genomes (via NCBI) Top

Scientific Literature Top

Phytochemical Profile Top

Gallery Top

Contributors Top

Collections Top