Photographs: Rinecaha, the Burren, Co. Clare

Mare's-tail Hippuris vulgaris Colgrach Family: Hippuridaceae Flowering June - July. Aquatic perennial. Native. Tiny greenish flowers without petals occur at the base of leaves on emergent stems, the male flowers with single reddish anther. Whorls of strap-like leaves on round, spongy stems. Erect emergent stems but trailing when submerged. Can be locally frequent in base-rich lakes, swamps, upland flushes and slow-moving streams and canals. Most frequent in central Ireland.

Mare's-tail, Hippuris vulgaris, Colgrach