Green mat of terrestrial water-starwort (Callitriche terrestris) growing on the exposed sandy shore of Lake Somerville. Closer to the lake’s edge, individuals of this same species growing in puddles or shallow water will look remarkably different. When submerged or growing in saturated mud, the plant physically alters its cellular growth, producing leaves that are much larger, thinner, and distinctly elongated to maximize their ability to capture diffused light and dissolved gases underwater. Texas, February 28, 2026

Lake Somerville Trailway, Burleson County, Texas, United States