aquatic plant idaquatic plant identification lyn gettys, phd • [email protected] university of...
TRANSCRIPT
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
