Huachuca Waterumbel

Huachuca water umbel occur at elevations ranging from 610 to 2,166 meters, in shallow and slow-flowing waters that are relatively stable, or in active stream channels containing refugial sites where the plants can escape the effect of scouring floods.  The plant depends on the availability of permanently wet (or nearly so), muddy, or silty substrates with some organic content.  Plant communities in which Huachuca water umbel occur are described as: 1) Warm-Temperate Wetlands, 2) Sonoran Riparian Deciduous Forest and Woodlands, and 3) Sonoran and Sinaloan Interior Marshlands and Submergent Communities.  The plant occurs both in full sun and in understory shade of Fremont cottonwood-Goodding willow (Populus fremontii-Salix gooddingii) forests.

The Huachuca water-umbel is a semi-aquatic to fully aquatic herbaceous perennial plant in the Carrot family (Apiaceae). The root system of Huachuca water-umbel contains both long horizontal underground stems and short vertical underground stems. From these, hollow linear are produced singly or in clusters at the top. The leaves vary greatly in length from 2.5 to 33 centimeters depending on their habitat, with shorter leaves typically found in drier environments and longer leaves when the plant is submerged in. The leaves are round or elliptical in cross section, 0.5 to 5.5 millimeters in diameter, and contain 6 to18 distinctive thin partitions along their length. Tiny white flowers that are 1 to 2 millimeters in diameter occur on umbrella-like structures from March through October. Fruits are spherical and dry, 1.6 to 2.3 millimeters long by 1.2 to 2.0 millimeters broad, with five distinct spongy ribs that make the seed buoyant and easily dispersed by water.

Huachuca water-umbel reproduces both vegetatively, through underground stems and via seed production. Despite the importance of vegetative reproduction to Huachuca water umbel, equally important is the seedbank, which can allow for recolonization following drought if the area receives enough precipitation. Huachuca water-umbel seedbanks establish quickly and persist for five to 10 years. Competition for sunlight, water and nutrients interferes with Huachuca water-umbel growth and reproduction.
 

During larger flood events, small, weakly rooted clumps of Huachuca water-umbel may tear off, float downstream and are deposited elsewhere in the drainage where they may survive if appropriate habitat conditions are present. Within two weeks of seed dispersal, Huachuca water-umbel may germinate and within three months of germination, may produce flowers. Huachuca water-umbel flowering is episodic from March through October, peaking in July and occurring with abundance irregularly. Flowering occurs from two to five days, with each flower producing from five to seven seeds.

Huachuca water-umbel occur at elevations ranging from 610 to 2,166 meters, in shallow and slow-flowing waters that are relatively stable or in active stream channels containing refugial sites where the plants can escape the effect of scouring floods. The plant depends on the availability of permanently wet, or nearly so, muddy or silty substrates with some organic content. Plant communities in which Huachuca water-umbel occur are described as:

1. Warm-temperate wetlands
2. Sonoran riparian riparian
   Definition of riparian habitat or riparian areas.
   
   Learn more about riparian deciduous forest and woodlands
3. Sonoran and Sinaloan interior marshlands and submergent communities

The plant occurs both in full sun and in understory shade of Fremont cottonwood-Goodding willow (Populus fremontii-Salix gooddingii) forests.