Wetland Plant Identification Quiz 3

Rush Family

Juncaceae

Juncus (Genus)

Rushes

• Unbranched stems

• Hairless leaves, take many shapes

• Capsule with many seeds in them

Grass Family

Poaceae

Common reed

Phragmites australis

• Very tall grass (up to 4 m tall)

• Many, larger leaves off stems

• Flower heads form large, feathery plumes, purple in early summer

• Rapidly creates dense stands

• Spreads by rhizomes & wind dispersal seeds

• Native and invasive sub-species exists in the U.S.

  • Invasive - Dark blue/green leaves, green stems

  • Native - Light yellow/green leaves, reddish stem

Reed canarygrass

Phalaris arundinacea

• 1-2 m tall

• Most easily identified by flower head

• Relatively thin stems

• Flat smooth leaves, thin < 2 cm wide

• Narrow, dense flower head, up to 30cm long, flower head longer than it is wide, begins purplish and turns yellow/brown

• Most populations probably non-native

• Spread by seeds and rhizomes

• Outcompetes other plants to create single species stands

Prairie cordgrass

Spartina pectinata

• 1-2 m tall

• Long, thinner leaves, flat, have rough edges

• Unique flower head, flowers/seeds form on 1 side

The Watershield family

Cabombaceae

Water shield

Brasenia schreberi

• Oval shaped, bright green leaves

• All leaves are floating

• Leaf blade attached in center

• Small leaves, 4-12 cm long

• No submerged leaves

• Small pink/purple flowers

• Wind pollinated

• A thick mucus covers all underwater structures

Lotus-lily family

Nelumbonaceae

American lotus

Nelumbo lutea

• Circular, large leaves up to 70 cm wide

• Emergent leaves cupped

• Floating leaves are flattened

• Leaf stalk attaches in center of leaf

• Large flowers, 15-25 cm wide, above water, many pale yellow flowers

• Large acorn-like seeds form above the water

• Can form giant stands through rhizomes

• Strong competitor for light and space

Water-lily family

Nymphaeaceae

• Leaves with a notch at base

• Larger, showy flowers

Yellow water-lily

Nuphar varegata

• Larger leaves, 10-20 cm wide

• Most leaves floating

• Smaller, yellow flowers, 2-5 cm

• Flowers tight, ball like

White water-lily

Nymphaea odorata

• Circular leaf, up to 30 cm

• Narrow leaf notch

• All leaves floating

• Flowers large & white petals, 7-20 cm, usually floating, fragrant

Duckweed family

Lemnaceae

Duckweed (Genus)

Lemna

• The entire plant is floating, not rooted in soil

• Each plant has 1 root

• No true leaves or stems

• Species distinguished based on shape

Hornwort family

Ceratophyllaceae

Coontail

Ceratophyllum demersum

• Long stems with many tiny leaves

• Leaves denser at tip of stems

• Completely submerged, but portions might float

• No roots, floating or anchored by stems, modified leaves

• Leaves in whirls around stem, 5-12 leaves whirled around stem

• Stiff leaves, leaf margins toothed

• Branched leaves

• Tiny (2mm) flowers develop at the base of leaves

• Seeds have 3 spines

• Pollination & seed development is all underwater

Watermilfoil family

Haloragaceae

Eurasian watermilfoil

Myriophyllum spicatum

• Rooted in soil

• Up to 2.5 m long

• Stems branched

• Leaves whirled around stem

• 4 leaves per whirl

• Leaves have many segments along leaf midline

• Emergent flower spikes

• Seeds can be dormant in soil up to 7 years

• Also spreads by plant fragmentation

• Easily confused with native milfoils when flower stalk is absent

Pondweed family

Potamogetonaceae 

Sago pondweed

Stuckenia pectinata

• Very thin stems (1mm thick)

• 30-100 cm tall

• Leaves all submerged & threadlike

• Stems highly branched & forked

• Spread by seed & rhizomes

Curly leaf pondweed

Potamogeton crispus

• Leaves with wavy edges

• Leaves long & thin, olive green to reddish brown, up to 9 cm long

• Fine serrations on leaf edges

• Entire plant up to 1 m long

• Send flower stalks above water line

Frog-bit family

Hydrocharitaceae

Canadian waterweed

• Extremely common

• Stems 1-3 m long and are branched

• Leaves are in many whorls of three around stem

• Leaves slightly translucent, leaves up to 3 cm long

• Tiny, white or pale purple flowers, male or female on separate plants

• Tiny flowers float on surface, flower attached by delicate stalk

• Form large, dense mats

Rushes (Juncus)

Common reed (Phragmites australis)

Reed canarygrass (Phalaris arundinacea)

Prairie cordgrass (Sparina pecinata)

Water shield (Brasenia schreberi)

American lotus (Nelumbo lutea)

Yellow water-lily  (Nuphar variegata)

White water-lily (Nymphaea odorata)

Duckweeds (lemna)

Coontail (Ceratophyllum demersum)

Eurasian watermilfoil (Myriophyllum spicatum)

Sago pondweed (Stuckenia pecinata)

Curly-leaf Pondweed (Potamogeton crispus)

Canadian waterweed (Elodea canadensis)