Aquatic Plants North America

Emergent aquatic plants

Plants with leaves that extend above the water surface

Acorus calamus

Sweetflag, calamus

Sweetflag description

Native, perennial, rhizome, narrow leaves, spadix bloom (yellowish brown) early-midsummer, fruit by late summer, sediment stabilizer, aromatic (spicy), root extract can act as insecticide

Butomus umbellatus

Flowering rush

Flowering rush description

Exotic, perennial, narrow leaves, spreads via rhizome, Terminal cluster of flowers (pink) midsummer, fruit cluster of follicles w long beans,

Carex spp.

Sedges

Sedges description

Native, Leaves narrow, come off of steps at 3 angles, perigynium covers nutlet, flowers unisexual, flowers midsummer, nutlets mature late summer, valuable food source & spawning habitat, filter water

Carex comosa

Bristly sedge, bottle brush sedge

Bristly sedge description

Overwinters, Native, Dense stem cluster, narrow leaves, slender spike, perigynia, flowering spikes midsummer, nutlets late summer, shoreline stabilizer

Dulichium arundinaceum

Three way sedge

Three-way sedge description

Perennial, Native, rhizome, short & stiff narrow leaves, round & hollow stem, flowers in linear spikelets by midsummer, fruit surrounded by finely barbed bristles by fall, buffer wave action

Eleocharis acicularis

Needle spikerush, hairgrass

Needle spikerush description

Emergent, Native, narrow leaves, oval spikelets midsummer, absence of noticeable leaves, single terminal spikelet, thin rhizomes

Eleocharis palustris

Creeping spikerush

Creeping spikerush description

Overwinters, Native, Emergent, leaves reduced or narrow, stem singular or small clusters, spikelet tight spiral of flowers later nutlets with distinctive cap on top half, achors sediment, buffer wave action, provide cover

Eleocharis robbinsii

Robbins spikerush

Robbins spikerush

Rare, emergent, narrow leaves. spikelets midseason, nutlets mid-late summer, absence of noticeable leaves, stems stiff & triangular, nutlets may pop out of spikelet when squeezed, low pH lakes, beautify shorelines, stabilize sediment, dampen wave action

Equisetum fluviatile

Water horsetail, pewterwart, joint rush

Water horsetail description

Emergent, Native, jointed stem, rhizome, hollow/ridged/stiff stems, leaves reduced to membrane w teeth around each node, fertile stem produce terminal cone (early summer), die back in hard frost, poisonous to horses

Glyceria borealis

Northern manna grass

Northern manna grass description

Emergent, Native, grows in clumps, leaf sheath closed or narrow leaves, leaf has fine hairs on upper surface, spikelet slender (midsummer), lemmas rounded w thin margin & tip, lemma has corrugated appearance, shallow water, provides food & spawning habitat

Iris versicolor

Northern blue flag

Northern blue flag Description

Emergent, Native, rhizome, perennial, sword like narrow leaves in fan like clusters, 3 petal flowers (blue-lavender) bloom May-July, capsular fruit late summer, roots contain iridin, cross pollinator, food

Allelopathy

when a species exude a chemical that inhibits the growth of another species competing for the same space

Juncus effusus

Soft rush, common rush, mat rush

Soft rush description

Emergent, native, overwinter, smooth cylindrical stems, leaves narrow or reduced along dense rootstalk, six tepals (early summer) eventually surround a see capsule, food and habitat

Juncus pelocarpus

Brown fruited rush

Brown fruited rush description

Emergent, Native, submersed form has tufts of narrow leaves connected by fine stems, rhizomes; emergent form leaf blades rounded w cross partitions, pale brown flowers with 3 sepals and petals, fruit capsule tapers to slender beak (late summer), awl shaped bulblets near flowers

Leersia oryzoides

Rice cut grass

Rice cut grass description

Emergent, Native, narrow leaves with rough edges & stiff spines, spikelets clusters 3-8, flattened & overlapping (midsummer), lemma has stiff hairs; resprouts from rootstalk, volunteers, food

Phalaris arundinacea

Reed canary grass

Reed canary grass description

Emergent, Native, rhizomes, grayish green narrow leaves (good leaf whistle), spikelets dense clusters initially green or tinged purple & become beige later in summer, favors disturbance; stabilizes shorelines, summer cover

Phragmites australis

Giant reed, common reed

Giant reed description

Emergent, Native, perennial, stems 2-4m tall, rhizomes (buds form to overwinter), panicle spreading clusters, spikelets 3-7 florets w long silky hairs (late summer), disturbed sights, cover

Scripus acutus

Hardstem bulrush

Hardstem bulrush description

Emergent, Native, firm stems, shallow rhizome, appears leafless but may have sheaths at base, floral leaf called bract, oval spikelets spirally arranged w scales, nutlets under scales, nesting material, food, weaving material

Scirpus americanus

Three-square, chairmakers rush

Three-square description

Emergent, Native, perennial, sharply triangular stems, firm rhizome, short inconspicuous leaves, pointed bract at end of stem, oval spikelets in tight clusters w reddish brown sharp tipped scales (midsummer), beaked & bristled nutlets (late summer), food soyrce

Scirpus fluviatilis

River bulrush

River bulrush description

Emergent, Native, sharply triangular stems, tuber producing rhizome, three ranked leaves w M cross section, spikelets spiral of flowers w brown scales, nutlets 3 angled w beak & 6 barbed bristles, stabilizes shorelines, food source, furniture & shelters

Scirpus validus

Softstem bulrush

Softstem bulrush description

Emergent, Native, tall flexible blueish green spongy stems, shallow rhizome, overwinters, leaf sheaths near base, floral leaf (bract) from which spikelets emerge, single clustered oval spikelets on lax stalks, scale covered flowers, nutlets under scales, food source, nesting material & cover

Sparganium eurycarpum

Common bur-reed

Common bur-reed Description

Emergent, Native, perennial, spongy narrow leaves or ribbon submersed leaves w triangular cross section & checkered veins, rhizome, zig zag flower stalk w spherical blooms that look like fuzzy balls, fruit is square topped w terminal beak & 2 stigmas (late summer), anchor sediment, nesting sites, food source

Sparganium chlorocarpum

Short stemmed bur reed

Sparganium fluctuans

Floating leaf bur reed

Typha angustifolia

Narrow leaved cattail

Narrow leaved cattail Description

Emergent, Native, sword like leaves sheathed at base, rhizome, auricles, flower looks like corndog (lower portion female cylindrical spike, upper portion male w hundreds of anthers) by midsummer, flowers have stigma, nutlets have fluff (late summer), nesting & spawning, food source

Typha latifolia

Broad leaved cattail

Broad leaved cattail Description

Emergent, Native, narrow sword leaves, robust rhizome, tapered leaf sheath, flower looks like hot dog on stick (lower portion tightly packed flowers w broad stigma & white hairs, male part hundreds of anthers), nutlets late summer, nesting, food source, weaving material, edible

Zizania spp.

Wild rice

Wild rice description

Emergent, native, annual, leaves float on surface early summer, stalks w wide flat leaves emerge midsummer, panicle, female spikelets tightly clustered one flowered 3 rub scale, single flowered male spikelets on lower spreading stalks, Z. palustris smaller than Z. aquarica however has larger grains, pH 6.8-8.8/sulfate <10ppm/alkalinity 5-250ppm REQUIRED

Alisma spp.

Water plantains

Water plantains description

Emergent, Native, tuberous base, rhizome, leaves clustered basal rosette, leaves oval w prominent parallel veins, flower white individual stalks 3 petaled, seeds tightly packed ring, ribbon shaped leaves produced in deeper water, (A. subcordatum, A. triviale, A. graminuem)

Calla palustris

Wild calla, marsh calla, water arum

Wild calla Description

Emergent, Native, broad heart shaped leaves, sturdy stalks, fleshy hardy rhizomes, white floral leaf funnel shaped around compact spike of flowers, red berries (late summer)

Cicuta maculata

Water hemlock, spotted bowbane

Water hemlock description

Emergent, Native, hollow erect stem, overwinters w tuberous rootstalk, leaves 3 parted further divided into leaflets, flowers umbrella like clustered (midsummer), rounded fruit w corky ribs (late summer), most poisonous plant in US

Cicuta bulbifera

Bulb bearing water hemlock

Decodon verticillatus

Swamp loosestrife, watter-willow

Swamp loosestrife Description

Emergent, Native, angled woody stems, rhizomes,, lance shaped leaves paired or 3 whorls, stems create tangled network, magneta flowers upper leaf axils petals narrow & crinkled (midsummer), fruit many seeded capsule, food source & cover

Lythrum salicaria

Purple loosestrife

Purple loosestrife description

Emergent, exotic/invasive, angled stems, wood rootstalk, lance shaped leaves w fine hairs, large range of leaf whorl arrangements, magneta flowers on terminal spike, very little value to wildlife

Potederia cordata

Pickerelweed

Pickerelweed Description

Emergent, Native, rhizome, glossy heart shaped leaves w parallel veins, small blue flowers on spike (early summer) w variable structure, corky like fruit, haven for insects, food source & shelter, shoreline stabilizer

Potentilla palustris

Marsh cinquefoil

Marsh cinquefoil Description

Emergent, Native, rhizome, reddish brown stems spread & root from nodes, stalks 5-7 leaflets w sharply toothed margin, flowers reddish purple, nutlets at base of flower, attracts insects/food/shelter

Rorippa nasturtium aquaticum

Water cress

Water cress Description

Emergent, native, long stems that often tangle, leaves 3-9 rounded w terminal lobe, clusters if white 4 petal flowers at end of shoots, fruit slender pod seeds heavily textured, near spring seeps, food, has sharp peppery taste, used to treat scurvy & night blindness

Sagittaria graminea

Grass leaved arrowhead, slender arrowhead

Grass leaved arrowhead description

Emergent, Native, rhizome, flowering stem has whorls of male flowers upper (>12 stamen) end female below w 3 bracts at base (produce nutlets w winged margin & short angled beak), food source, shelter, tubers edible

Sagittaria rigida

Stiff arrowhead

Sagittaria latifolia

Common arrowhead, broad leaf arrowhead, duck potato, wapato

Common arrowhead description

Emergent, Native, rhizomes, leaf shape/size highly variable, very narrow knifelike leaves may be present, whorls of flowers male upper w 20-40 stamen & hairless filaments - female glove shaped head w nutlets, extremely high value for wildlife, improves water quality

Sagittaria cuneata

Arum-leaved arrowhead

Free Floating Plants

Plants floating on the waters surface, not rooted in soil

Lemna minor

Small duckweed, water lentil, lesser duckweed

Small duckweed description

Free floating, Native, Oval shaped leaf bodies (fronds) w 3 faint nerves, 1 root, 0 stems, floating individually or in groups, often mistaken for algae, associated w eutrophic water, survives winter through small turions on the sediment, very nutritious, may be habitat for mosquito breeding, waste water treatment

Lemna triscula

Forked duckweed, ivy-leaf duckweed, star duckweed

Forked duckweed Description

Free floating, Native, simple flattened leaf body/frond w long stalk & 3 faint nerves, single root, may look rowboat/oar shaped, overwinters w buds on sediment

Ricca fluitans

Slender ricca

Slender ricca description

Free floating, Native, jigsaw