Jussiaea californica (S. Watson) Jepson; J. diffusa Forsskål var. californica (S. Watson) Greene ex Jepson; J. repens Linnaeus var. californica S. Watson

Stems glabrous or sparsely villous. Leaves alternate or fas­cicled; stipules symmetrical; petioles of basal leaves 0.3–0.8 cm, those of distal leaves 0.2–2.5 cm; blade 0.8–4(–8.5) cm, apex sometimes glandular-mucronate, surfaces shiny, glabrous, rarely ciliate or minutely pellucid-punctate. Flowers: anthers on short filaments 0.5–1.1 mm, those on long filaments 0.8–1.2 mm; ovary 6–14 mm, apex truncate, glabrous or with scattered hairs, stigma usually as long as anthers, rarely exserted beyond them. Capsules 10–17(–25) × 2–3 mm, pedicel 10–35 mm. Seeds 7–14 per locule. 2n = 16.

Flowering summer–early fall. Wet places, along slow-moving rivers, streams, canals, ditches, often growing into main channels as aquatic weeds; 0–900[–3000] m; Ariz., Calif., N.Mex., Oreg., Tex.; Mexico; West Indies (Cuba); Central America; South America; Pacific Islands (Galapagos Islands); introduced elsewhere in Pacific Islands (Society Islands), Australia.