Hudson River Water Nymph

Najas muenscheri Clausen

Najas guadalupensis var. muenscheri
Troy Weldy

Class
Monocotyledoneae (Monocots)
Family
Hydrocharitaceae (Tape-grass Family)
State Protection
Endangered
Listed as Endangered by New York State: in imminent danger of extirpation in New York. For animals, taking, importation, transportation, or possession is prohibited, except under license or permit. For plants, removal or damage without the consent of the landowner is prohibited.
Federal Protection
Not Listed
State Conservation Status Rank
S2
Imperiled in New York - Very vulnerable to disappearing from New York due to rarity or other factors; typically 6 to 20 populations or locations in New York, very few individuals, very restricted range, few remaining acres (or miles of stream), and/or steep declines.
Global Conservation Status Rank
G5T2
Imperiled globally - The subspecies/variety is at high risk of extinction due to rarity or other factors; typically 20 or fewer populations or locations in the world, very few individuals, very restricted range, few remaining acres (or miles of stream), and/or steep declines. (The species as a whole is common globally.)

Summary

Did you know?

Hudson River water-nymph is an endemic taxon in New York. In other words the only place in the whole world where it occurs is New York along the Hudson River. It is one of about three endemic taxa that occur in New York (Weldy and Werier 2005). The subspecific name muenscheri is named after Walter Muenscher (Clausen 1939) a botanist from New York who among other projects studied the aquatic plants along the Hudson River. According to Robert Clausen (1939), who named this taxon, Muenscher has contributed more than any other botanist to the knowledge of aquatic vegetation in New York.

State Ranking Justification

This taxon is a globally rare New York State endemic. It is only known from the southern part of the Hudson River. Historically this species was quite abundant in the Hudson River from Piermont just south of the Tappan Zee Bridge north to the junction with the Mohawk River near Waterford. Over this range there are at least 20 distinct populations which have not been seen in over 70 years. There are 2 populations that are still known to be extant.

Short-term Trends

Short term trends for this taxon are unclear due to a lack of data. Some of the habitat where this species occurs has clearly been degraded by the invasive species Trapa natans. This might indicate that this species is declining in recent years but more evidence is needed.

Long-term Trends

There are at least 20 populations that have not been seen in recent years and only two populations which are currently known to be extant. It is likely that at least some of the historical populations are still extant but simply have not been seen recently because they have not been searched for recently. Also, it is likely that at least some of the historical populations have become extirpated since this was once considered an abundant species from Troy to Piermont (Muenscher 1937) and almost all of the previously known populations (20 out of 22) have not been documented in over 70 years. Long term trends are not clear due to lack of data but this taxon has most likely declined at least to some degree in the past 100 years.

Conservation and Management

Threats

The non-native invasive aquatic plant Trapa natans threatens one of the two known extant populations. This species is very common in the Hudson River estuaries and may be threatening additional populations.

Conservation Strategies and Management Practices

The non-native invasive species, Trapa natans should be controlled in the estuaries and mud flats along the Hudson River.

Research Needs

Historical populations need to be surveyed to determine if these populations are still extant.

Habitat

Habitat

This taxon occurs in shallow water or pools of tidal mud flats of the Hudson River on mucky or gravel and rock soils (New York Natural Heritage Program 2007). Shallow water of rivers (Haynes 2000). Tidal waters (Crow and Hellquist 2000). Abundant along tidal mud flats along the Hudson River (Gleason and Cronquist 1991). Fresh tidal margins of rivers (Fernald 1970). Abundant in shallow water near the low tide line between Piermont and Troy (Muenscher 1937).

Associated Ecological Communities

  • Brackish subtidal aquatic bed (guide)
    The aquatic community of continuously flooded substrates with rooted aquatic vegetation. The water is brackish (salinity between 0.5 and 18.0 ppt) and the water is usually less than 2 m (6 ft) deep at low tide.
  • Freshwater subtidal aquatic bed
    The aquatic community of continuously flooded substrates with rooted aquatic vegetation. The water is fresh (salinity less than 0.5 ppt) and the water is usually less than 2 m (6 ft) deep at low tide.

Associated Species

  • Elodea nuttallii (Nuttall's waterweed)
  • Najas flexilis (common water-nymph, common naiad)
  • Nitella acuminata
  • Potamogeton perfoliatus (clasping-leaved pondweed)
  • Trapa natans (water-chestnut)
  • Vallisneria americana (water-celery, tape-grass)
  • Zannichellia palustris (horned pondweed)

Range

New York State Distribution

This taxon is endemic to the lower regions of the Hudson River. It occurs, at least historically, from Piermont (just south of the Tappan Zee Bridge) north to the junction with the Mohawk River (just north of the Troy Dam) (Muenscher 1936, New York Natural Heritage Program 2007).

Global Distribution

This taxon is only known from New York State along the lower Hudson River (Haynes 2000).

Identification Comments

General Description

This species is a submerged, annual, herbaceous aquatic plant. There are scattered leaves along the 30-90 cm long stems. The leaves are small and narrow with numerous minute teeth along the edges. The minute inconspicuous flowers occur in the axils of the leaves. One minute (up to 3.8 mm long) cylindrical seed is produced per flower. The seeds are minutely pitted (Haynes 2000).

Identifying Characteristics

Distinguishing characteristics: plant darker green than other taxa under Najas guadalupensis; leaves about 1 cm long and 1 mm wide; style and stigmas 0.7-1.5 mm long; the seed with 50-60 rows of areolae, the raphe prominent, 3.3-3.8 mm. Best life stage for ID: in fruit. Characteristics needed to ID: leaves with fruit and habitat description.

Best Life Stage for Proper Identification

Mature fruits are almost essential for accurate identification and should be included with voucher specimens.

Similar Species

Najas guadalupensis ssp olivacea and N. g. ssp. guadalupensis have seeds 1.2-2.5 mm long and areoles of seeds in 20-40 longitudinal rows vs. seeds 3.3-3.8 mm long and areoles of seeds in 50-60 longitudinal rows for Najas guadalupensis ssp. muenscheri. Najas g. ssp. olivacea has leaf blades with 20-40 minute teeth per side vs. 50-100 minute teeth per side for N. g. ssp. muenscheri. Najas g. ssp. guadalupensis has stems 0.1-0.8 mm wide vs. stems 0.8-1.0 mm wide for N. g. ssp. muenscheri (Crow and Hellquist 2000, Haynes 2000).

Najas minor has leaf blades with 7-15 multicellular relatively larger teeth per side, leaves truncate lobed at base, seeds 1.5-3.0 mm long, and areoles in about 15 longitudinal rows vs. leaf blades with 50-100 minute smaller teeth per side, leaves tapered at base, seeds 3.3-3.8 mm long, and areoles of seeds in 50-60 longitudinal rows for Najas guadalupensis ssp. muenscheri (Crow and Hellquist 2000, Haynes 2000).

Najas gracillima has leaf blades with 13-17 minute teeth per side, leaves truncate lobed at base with the lobes irregularly toothed, seeds 2.0-3.2 mm long, and areoles of seeds in 40 longitudinal rows vs. leaf blades with 50-100 minute smaller teeth per side, leaves tapered at base, seeds 3.3-3.8 mm long, and areoles of seeds in 50-60 longitudinal rows for Najas guadalupensis ssp. muenscheri (Crow and Hellquist 2000, Haynes 2000).

Najas flexilis has seeds smooth (remove seed coat), glossy, and obovoid vs. seeds pitted, dull (even without seed coat), and fusiform for Najas guadalupensis ssp. muenscheri (Crow and Hellquist 2000, Haynes 2000).

Best Time to See

This taxon produces mature fruits from the end of August through September. Since mature fruits are essential for identification, the best time to survey for this species is in September.

  • Fruiting

The time of year you would expect to find Hudson River Water Nymph fruiting in New York.

Hudson River Water Nymph Images

Taxonomy

Hudson River Water Nymph
Najas muenscheri Clausen

  • Kingdom Plantae
    • Phylum Anthophyta
      • Class Monocotyledoneae (Monocots)
        • Order Hydrocharitales
          • Family Hydrocharitaceae (Tape-grass Family)

Additional Common Names

  • Hudson River Mermaid Weed
  • Mermaid Weed
  • Muenscher's Water-nymph
  • Naiad

Synonyms

  • Najas guadalupensis ssp. muenscheri (Clausen) Haynes & C.B. Hellquist
  • Najas guadalupensis var. muenscheri (Clausen) Haynes

Comments on the Classification

Clausen (1937) first described this taxon at the species level as Najas muenscheri. It was later considered only worthy of infraspecific rank and placed under N. guadalupensis, first at the varietal rank (var. muenscheri) (Haynes 1979) and later at the subspecific rank (ssp. muenscheri) (Haynes and Hellquist 1996). Based on field work and examination of thousands of specimens of N. guadalupensis sensu lato, Haynes (1979) concluded that N. muenscheri was only slightly different and simply represented populations at the northern limit of N. guadalupensis sensu stricto. He thus made the transfer to varietal status. Haynes and Hellquist's (1996) reason for transferring this taxon from variety to subspecies was that they only recognized one infraspecific rank, that of subspecies. Gleason and Cronquist (1991) treat this taxon at the specific level while other recent authors (Kartesz 1994, Mitchell and Tucker 1997, Crow and Hellquist 2000, Haynes 2000) following Haynes (1979), treat it at the infraspecific level. There are three other subspecies of N. guadalupensis. Najas guadalupensis ssp. guadalupensis is quite widespread and occurs from Maine west to Washington and south to South America. Najas guadalupensis ssp. olivacea occurs primarily around the great lakes from New York west to Minnesota and Manitoba. It also occurs in eastern Massachusetts. Najas guadalupensis ssp. floridana is restricted to Florida, Georgia, and Alabama (Crow and Hellquist 2000, Haynes 2000).

Additional Resources

Best Identification Reference

Haynes, R.R. 2000. Najadaceae Jussieu. Pages 77-83 in Flora of North America Editorial Committee (Editors), Flora of North America, North of Mexico, Volume 22, Magnoliophyta: Alismatidae, Arecidae, Commelinidae (in part), and Zingiberidae. Oxford University Press, New York, New York, USA.

Other References

Clausen, R.T. 1937. A new species of Najas from the Hudson River. Rhodora 39: 57-60, plate 455.

Crow, Garrett E. and C. Barre Hellquist. 2000. Aquatic and wetland plants of northeastern North America: A revised and enlarged edition or Norman C. Fassett's a manual of aquatic plants. Volume two angiosperms: Monocotyledons. The University of Wisconsin Press. Madison, Wisconsin. 456 pp.

Fernald, M.L. 1950. Gray's manual of botany. 8th edition. D. Van Nostrand, New York. 1632 pp.

Gleason, Henry A. and A. Cronquist. 1991. Manual of Vascular Plants of Northeastern United States and Adjacent Canada. The New York Botanical Garden, Bronx, New York. 910 pp.

Haynes, R. R. 1979. Revision of North and Central American Najas (Najadaceae). Sida 8: 34-56.

Haynes, R.R. and C.B. Hellquist 1996. New combinations in North American Alismatidae. Novon 6: 370-371.

Holmgren, Noel. 1998. The Illustrated Companion to Gleason and Cronquist's Manual. Illustrations of the Vascular Plants of Northeastern United States and Adjacent Canada. The New York Botanical Garden, Bronx, New York.

Muenscher, W.C. 1937. VII. Aquatic vegetation of the Lower Hudson area. 1936. Biological Survey. 11:231-248.

Muenscher, W.C.L. 1944. Aquatic Plants of the United States. Comstock Publishing Associations, Ithaca, New York, USA.

New York Natural Heritage Program. 2010. Biotics database. New York Natural Heritage Program. New York State Department of Environmental Conservation. Albany, NY.

New York Natural Heritage Program. 2024. New York Natural Heritage Program Databases. Albany, NY.

Weldy, T. and D. Werier. 2010. New York flora atlas. [S.M. Landry, K.N. Campbell, and L.D. Mabe (original application development), Florida Center for Community Design and Research http://www.fccdr.usf.edu/. University of South Florida http://www.usf.edu/]. New York Flora Association http://newyork.plantatlas.usf.edu/, Albany, New York

Weldy, Troy W. and David Werier. 2005. New York Flora Atlas. [S.M. Landry, K.N. Campbell, and L.D. Mabe (original application development), Florida Center for Community Design and Research. University of South Florida]. New York Flora Association, Albany, NY. Available on the web at (http://newyork.plantatlas.usf.edu/).

Links

About This Guide

Information for this guide was last updated on: January 22, 2008

Please cite this page as:
New York Natural Heritage Program. 2024. Online Conservation Guide for Najas muenscheri. Available from: https://guides.nynhp.org/hudson-river-water-nymph/. Accessed March 28, 2024.