Vallisneria, commonly known as eelgrass or tape grass, is a genus of freshwater aquatic plants. These submerged plants are notable for their long, ribbon-like leaves, which can grow several feet in length, creating underwater meadows. Vallisneria thrives in still and slow-moving waters of lakes, ponds, and streams, and is widely distributed across temperate and tropical regions. These plants play a crucial ecological role, providing habitat and food for aquatic life, stabilizing sediments, and improving water quality.

They reproduce both vegetatively and sexually, with unique pollination mechanisms adapted to underwater environments. Vallisneria's evolutionary adaptations enable it to flourish in various freshwater habitats, demonstrating a remarkable resilience and ecological significance in aquatic ecosystems.