aquatic plant idaquatic plant identification lyn gettys, phd • lgettys@ufl.edu university of...

Aquatic plant identification

Lyn Gettys, PhD • lgettys@ufl.edu

University of Florida IFAS FLREC

Florida’s waters

42 aquatic species

Annona glabra (Annonaceae): native

Tree to 40’

Leaves simple, 8”

Ovate/oblong

Alternate

Creamy flowers

Green/yellow fruit

Pond apple

Pond apple

Ludwigia peruviana (Onagraceae): exotic; FLEPPC Cat 1

Tropical America

Shrub to 7’

Leaves simple, 4”

Lanceolate

Alternate

Bright yellow flowers

Peruvian primrosewillow

Peruvian primrosewillow

Cephalanthus occidentalis (Rubiaceae): native

Shrub to 7’

Leaves simple, 3”

Lanceolate

Coarse

Verticillate/whorled

Ball inflorescence

Buttonbush

Buttonbush

Hibiscus coccineus (Malvaceae): native

Shrub to 6+’

Leaves simple, 6”

Juvenile – cleft

Mature – palmate

Alternate

Large red flowers

Scarlet rosemallow

Scarlet rosemallow

Panicum hemitomon (Poaceae): native

Plant height to 6’

Leaves to 1” x 12”

Bright green

Loose ligule

Spiky panicle to 12”

Small greenish flowers

Maidencane

Maidencane

Panicum repens (Poaceae): exotic; FLEPPC Cat 1

Africa, Asia

Plant height to 3’

Leaves to 1/4” x 10”

Blue-green

Clasping hairy ligule

Open panicle to 9”

Small yellow flowers

Sharp pointed rhizome

Torpedograss

Torpedograss

Easily confused…

Colocasia esculenta (Araceae): exotic; FLEPPC Cat 1

SE Asia, India

Plant height to 8’

Leaves simple, 2’

Sagittate, peltate

Petiole up to 4’ long

Basal

Spathe and spadix

Wild taro

Wild taro

Saururus cernuus (Saururaceae): native

Plant height to 2’

Leaves simple, 4”

Cordate to sagittate

Clasping

Alternate

Bottlebrush spike

Lizardtail

Lizardtail

Thalia geniculata (Marantaceae): native

Leaves simple, 2.5’

Lanceolate, broad base

Petiole to 4’ long

Basal

Scorpoid cyme

Peduncles up to 7’ long

Thalia (alligatorflag, fireflag)

Thalia (alligatorflag, fireflag)

Sagittaria latifolia (Alismataceae): native

Leaves simple, 2’

Broad, sagittate

Petiole to 4’ long

Basal

Spike of white 3-petaled flowers

Arrowhead

Arrowhead

Sagittaria lancifolia (Alismataceae): native

Leaves simple, 2’

Lanceolate

Petiole to 4’ long

Basal

Spike of white 3-petaled flowers

Duck potato (bull-tongue)

Duck potato (bull-tongue)

Pontederia cordata (Pontederiaceae): native

Leaves simple, 8”

Cordate to lanceolate

Petiole to 4’ long

Basal

Spike inflorescence

Peduncle to 4’ long

Pickerelweed

Pickerelweed

Eleocharis cellulosa (Cyperaceae): native

Plant height to 4’

Roundish stem

Leaves basal sheath

Spikelet inflorescence on apex

Club-like

“Pipe-cleaner” white flowers

Gulf Coast (club) spikerush

Gulf Coast (club) spikerush

Eleocharis interstincta (Cyperaceae): native

Plant height to 4’

Roundish stem with cross-hatching

Leaves basal sheath

Spikelet inflorescence on apex

Club-like

Similar to club spikerush

Jointed spikerush

Jointed spikerush

Juncus effusus (Juncaceae): native

Plant height to 5’

Round stem

Leaves brown basal sheath

Inflorescence on apex

Upper bract above

Compound umbel

Green to brown florets

Soft rush

Soft rush

Schoenoplectus californicus (Cyperaceae): native

Plant height to 12’

Rounded triangular dark-green stem

No leaves (v-shaped basal sheath)

Open-panicle inflorescence

*Near* apex

20 to many reddish-brown spikelets

Thick runners (rhizomes)

Southern/giant bulrush

Southern/giant bulrush

Alternanthera philoxeroides (Amaranthaceae): exotic; FLPAP

S. America

Depth to 6’; emergent to 1’

Leaves simple, to 4”

Elliptic to lanceolate

Smooth margins

Opposite

Hollow stems

White flower on peduncle

Alligatorweed

Alligatorweed

Hygrophila polysperma (Acanthaceae): exotic; Noxious Weed

India, Malaysia

Depth to 6’; emergent to 6”

Leaves simple, to 4”

Elliptic, smooth margins

Opposite

Square stems

Flowers in leaf axils

Hygrophila

Hygrophila

Rotala rotundifolia (Lythraceae): exotic; FLEPPC Cat 2

Asia

Depth to 12’; emergent to 8”

Leaves simple, smooth margins, opposite or whorled

Emergent round, to 0.5”

Submersed elliptic, to 1”

Bright red to green stems

Spike of bright pink flowers

Rotala

Rotala

Limnophila sessiliflora: exotic; Noxious Weed

India, SE Asia

Depth to 12’; emergent to 6”

Leaves verticillate

S: finely cut, fan-like, 1.5”, 6 to 10

E: lanceolate-ish, irregular margins, 1”, 5 to 8

Flowers emergent, sessile, 0.3”

Limnophila

Limnophila

Cabomba caroliniana (Cabombaceae): native***

Depth to 30’

Submersed leaves finely cut, fan-like, slimy, to 3”

Opposite or verticillate/whorled

Emergent leaves ◊

Usually rooted

Free-floating or anchored

Flowers emergent, 0.5”

Fanwort (cabomba)

Fanwort (cabomba)

Ceratophyllum demersum (Ceratophyllaceae): native

Depth to 10’

Leaves finely cut, small teeth on midribs (coarse), 2”

Verticillate/whorled – 6 to 12

No roots

Flowers tiny and rare

Coontail

Coontail

Easily confused…

Utricularia sp. (Lentibulariaceae): native

Depth to 6’

Leaves finely cut, 2”

Feathery, smooth/soft

Opposite or verticillate

Bladders

No roots

Two-petalled flower

Long peduncles

Bladderwort

Bladderwort

Chara sp. (Characeae): native macrophytic alga

Depth to 6’

Branchlets narrow, thread-like, coarse, to 2”

Verticillate

Aromatic…

No roots

Spores

Chara (muskgrass)

Chara (muskgrass)

Many genera and species; some native, some exotic

See algae ID talk for more info

Depth to 6’

Multi-cellular

Cells attach end-to-end

No roots

Filamentous algae

Najas guadalupensis (Najadaceae): native

Depth to 6’

Leaves narrow, finely serrate, to 1”

Opposite or verticillate

Green to purplish

Rooted

Flowers rare

Southern naiad

Southern naiad

Potamogeton illinoensis (Potamogetonaceae): native

Depth to 6’

Floating leaves elliptic, 4”

Submersed leaves lanceolate, 8”

Long petioles

Opposite or verticillate

Rooted

Short spike of green flowers

Illinois pondweed

Illinois pondweed

Vallisneria americana (Hydrocharitaceae): native

Plant height to 5’

Leaves straplike, to 1” x 5’

Rounded apex

Basal rosette

Rooted

♀ flowers on long peduncles

♂ flowers tiny, floating

Eelgrass (tapegrass, val)

Eelgrass (tapegrass, val)

HydrillaHydrilla verticillata (Hydrocharitaceae): exotic; Noxious Weed

Multiple origins – Korea, India* (FL: dioecious ♀)

Depth to 25’

Leaves strap-shaped, serrate, 0.5”

Verticillate (4 to 8)

Rooted; tubers, turions

White flower to 0.25”

Long peduncle

Hydrilla

Egeria densa (Hydrocharitaceae): exotic (not listed)

S. America

Depth to 6’

Leaves strap-shaped, finely serrate, 0.5”

Verticillate (4 to 8)

Rooted

White flower to 0.75”

Short peduncle

Brazilian elodea, egeria

Brazilian elodea, egeria

Easily confused…

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Nelumbo lutea (Nelumbonaceae): native

Leaves simple, 12”

Waxy/rubbery

Round, peltate

Floating, emergent

Corn-dog rhizome

BIG yellow flowers

American lotus

American lotus

Nuphar lutea (N. advena) (Nymphaceae): native

Leaves 12”, simple

Cordate to sagittate

Submersed, floating, emergent

Yellow “half-open” flowers

Thick creamy rhizomes

Spatterdock (cow lily)

Spatterdock (cow lily)

Nymphaea odorata: native

Leaves 8”, nearly round

Cleft/wedged

Pointed basal lobes

Floating white flowers

Fragrant, many petals

Fragrant white waterlily

Fragrant white waterlily

Nymphaea mexicana: native

Leaves 8”, nearly round

Small cleft

Pointed basal lobes

Purple/brown

Floating yellow flowers

Not fragrant, many petals

Yellow waterlily

Yellow waterlily

Nymphoides spp. (Menyanthaceae)

1 native, 3 exotic

Leaves simple, floating

Small (< 2”) showy flowers

Floatinghearts

Nymphoides aquatica: native

Leaves 6”, nearly round

Round base, ~notched apex

Green upper, purple lower

Corky

Flat white flowers

5 petals

“Banana cluster” ramets

Bananalily

Bananalily

Nymphoides cristata: exotic (Asia): FL Noxious Weed

Leaves 6”, cordate

Dark red markings

Smooth

Ridged white flowers

~5 petals

Spikey ramet

Crested floatingheart

Crested floatingheart

Nymphoides indica: exotic (Asia); not listed

Leaves 8”, round, notchedFlat, bright green

White “fuzzy” flowers~5-10 petals

Copious seed production

Small/no ramets

Water snowflake

Water snowflake

Nymphoides peltata: exotic (Asia): FL Noxious Weed

Leaves 5”, round to cordate

~ purple lower

~ scalloped margin

Flat papery yellow flowers

5 petals

Copious seed production

Small/no ramets

Yellow floatingheart

Yellow floatingheart

Easily confused…

Easily confused…

Salvinia molesta (Salviniaceae): exotic; Noxious Weed

Brazilian fern

Fronds to 4 cm

Upper fronds round/oval

Joined in pairs

“Egg-beater” hairs

Lower fronds = “roots”

Giant salvinia (waterfern)

Giant salvinia (waterfern)

Pistia stratiotes (Araceae): exotic – probably…

S. America, Africa, SE US

FL Class 2 Prohibited Aquatic Plant

Plant width to 2’

Leaves to 1’, scalloped

Thick, dull green, sessile

Roots light, feathery

Inconspicuous flowers

Waterlettuce

Waterlettuce

Limnobium spongia (Hydrocharitaceae): native

Plant height to 1’

Leaves 3”, round to cordate

Leathery, spongy

Stiff ridged petioles; basal

Small white flower

Roots creamy, smooth

Frogbit

Frogbit

Eichhornia crassipes (Pontederiaceae): exotic; FLPAP

Brazil, S. America

Plant height to 3’

Leaves 5”, round

Leathery/rubbery

Spongy petioles; basal

Roots dark, feathery

Showy purple flowers

Maintenance control!!!

Waterhyacinth

Waterhyacinth

Easily confused…

Plant Identification Terminology: An Illustrated Glossary

(Harris and Harris) (amazon.com)

CAIP website: http://plants.ifas.ufl.edu

vPlants: A Virtual Herbarium of the Chicago Region:

http://www.vplants.org/plants/glossary/index.html

Wayne’s Word Online Textbook of Natural History

http://waynesword.palomar.edu/

Resources

conference.ifas.ufl.edu/aw

Questions? lgettys@ufl.edu