This group of pondweeds contains about 15 species with narrow, thread-like leaves that are very difficult to differentiate.  Leaves are usually less than 3 millimeters wide.  Plants are light to olive green and usually less than 2 meters long.  Narrow-leaf pondweeds (e.g., Potamogeton pectinatus) compose up to 50% of the pondweeds eaten by waterfowl.  In addition, muskrat, deer, and beaver feed on narrow-leaf pondweeds.