Floating and Submerged Plants in Utah

Introduction

Submerged and floating plant species play critical roles in aquatic ecosystems. They provide habitat to aquatic organisms, improve water clarity by trapping sediment, and absorb excess nutrients from the water column, amongst many other vital services. However, they have been threatened and degraded by pollution, land conversion, and introductions of harmful species. Identifying both native and non-native plants is an important component of tackling this degradation and promoting the conservation and restoration of aquatic plant communities. We hope this book finds a home in the pocket of your waders or the bottom of your kayak and guides you in the process of getting to know these fascinating species.

Resources

Many plant identification sources were used to compile the descriptions of each species: Aquatic and Wetland Plants of Southwestern United States,1 Wetland Plants of Great Salt Lake,2 the U.S. Forest Service,3 Aquatic and Wetland Plants of Southeastern United States,4 the Biota of North America Program (BONAP), 5 Aquatic Plants of the Upper Midwest,6 AquaPlant,7 the PLANTS Database,8 and A Utah Flora.9 These sources may be consulted for additional information.

Acknowledgments

This work was generously supported by Utah Reclamation Mitigation and Conservation Commission, Ducks Unlimited, Utah State University (USU) Ecology Center, USU Department of Watershed Sciences, and USU Extension.

Ecology Center・Department of Watershed Sciences・Extension

HOW TO USE THIS GUIDE

Each of the plant identification pages in this guide contains information on the species’ habitat and characteristics.

Duration

Annual (A): completes life cycle in one growing season

Perennial (P): part of the plant persists year to year

Annual or perennial (AP): depends on local conditions

Common name

Habitat

This plant lives in these sorts of conditions.

Stems and roots

These are the characteristics of the stems and roots.

Leaves

These are the characteristics of the leaves.

We may describe them using technical words.

Flowers and seeds

These are the characteristics of the flowers and seeds.

The color of the plant information box indicates where this species grows in the water column:

= Most of the plant is floating on or above the surface of the water

= The plant is both on/above the water’s surface and submerged

= The plant is entirely submerged

Definitions of underlined words can be found in the glossary (pg. 39).

Commonness

Nativity

Native (N): naturally occurring in Utah

Introduced (I): introduced from outside Utah

Aquatic Invasive Species (AIS): not native and a known invasive species

Additional facts

This is where you’ll find fun facts, synonyms of species names, and look-alike species.

Common (C): found abundantly in Utah

Uncommon (U): found less

abundantly in Utah

Occasional (O): found infrequently in Utah

Nativity:

Duration:

Commonness:

(Commonness defined in glossary on pg. 39.)

Azolla microphylla SALVINIACEAE

Mexican mosquito fern

Habitat

Surface of lakes, ponds, and quiet waters of streams and canals.

Stems and roots

Plants are flattened, forming free-floating mats ①. 1–3 cm across. Small roots reach into water.

Leaves

Scale-like, green to red, lobes that are somewhat irregular in shape, small hairs on upper lobe.

Reproduction

Pitted spores located on underside of leaves.

Additional facts

Synonym: A. mexicana

Fixes atmospheric nitrogen.

Nativity:

Duration:

Commonness:

Individual plants can grow close together and form dense mats.

Ceratophyllum demersum

Coontail Habitat

Entirely submerged in quiet waters of lakes, ponds, and streams.

Stems

Not rooted. Stems up to 3 m long, branched and forming large masses ①–②. Brittle.

Leaves

In whorls of 6 to 12. Leaves are variable in length, typically around 15 mm. Forked ③. Serrate.

Flowers

Inconspicuous flowers in leaf axils ④.

Additional facts

Provides habitat for aquatic animals such as shrimp and fish as well as food for waterfowl.

Nativity: N

Duration: P Commonness: C

2

See the small orange spheres?

Those are the oospores!

Chara spp.

Muskgrass, stonewort

Habitat

Entirely submerged in shallow to deep hard or alkaline water.

Structure

Although it looks a lot like a vascular plant ①, Chara is a genus of algae. It is highly branched and has 6 to 16 branchlets around each node. These branchlets often have spine-like appendages. It does not have roots but can attach itself to the substrate with rootlike appendages.

Reproduction

Does not have flowers or seeds. Reproduces via fragments or oospores (a thick-walled cell formed by fertilization) ②.

Additional facts

Easily distinguished by its foul, musty smell. It often has a grainy or crunchy texture from calcium deposits. Chara is commonly considered an indicator of high water quality.

Nativity:

Duration:

Commonness:

Duckweeds ARACEAE

Lemna, Spirodela, and Wolffia

Habitat

Floating on surfaces of slow-moving, still, or stagnant waters.

Structure

Duckweeds are thalli, meaning leaves and stems are not differentiated, and they lack a vascular system.

Lemna and Spirodela have a single, flat, oval leaf/stem. Lemna are typically less than 5 mm wide and have one root ①, whereas Spirodela are slightly larger at 10 mm wide and have multiple roots. Wolffia plants are cylindrical in shape, much smaller ②, and do not have roots.

Reproduction

Plants in these genera rarely flower. They reproduce vegetatively by forming chains of buds that can then break off. They can do this quite rapidly ③.

Nativity:

Duration:

Commonness:

Reddish plants are Lemna, smaller green plants are Wolffia.

Lemna is more common than Spirodela or Wolffia.

Dense populations of duckweed can inhibit light access for submerged plants.

Egeria densa HYDROCHARITACEAE

Brazilian waterweed

Habitat

Submerged except flowers in fresh water of lakes, ponds, pools, ditches, and quiet streams.

Stems and roots

Rooted. Stems ascending and simple or sparingly branched.

Leaves

Lower leaves opposite or in whorls of 3. Upper leaves in whorls of 4–6 ①. Linear-lanceolate, sessile.

Flowers

Flowers just above the surface of the water ②. Three white petals.

Additional facts

Native to South America. Can be distinguished from canadensis (pg. 7) and H. verticillata (pg. 8) by number of leaves in the upper whorls.

Nativity: AIS Duration: P

Commonness: O

The inflated petioles are distinctive.

Eichhornia crassipes PONTEDERIACEAE

Common water hyacinth

Habitat

Floating on the surface of ponds, streams, and ditches.

Roots

Roots purplish and dangling in water below leaves.

Leaves

Leaves round and in clusters. Petiole is distinctively

spongy and inflated ①.

Flowers

Showy purple to light blue flowers on spike. Top petal has purple or blue spot with yellow center ②.

Additional facts

Synonym: Pontederia crassipes

Native to South America. Extremely aggressive. Not yet spreading in Utah, but if found, report it to the county weed supervisor for that area.

Nativity: AIS Duration: P

Commonness: NA

Leaves are in whorls of three.

Elodea canadensis HYDROCHARITACEAE

Canadian waterweed

Habitat

Submerged except flowers in lakes, ponds, and slowmoving streams, especially calcareous areas.

Stems and roots

Rooted. Long, slender stems. Dichotomously branched

Leaves

Middle and upper leaves are in whorls of 3. Linear to tapering oblong. Thin, finely serrate.

Flowers and seeds

Flowers bloom above the surface of the water. Three white petals.

Additional facts

Can be distinguished from the invasive species E. densa (pg. 5) and H. verticillata (pg. 8) by the number of leaves in each whorl.

Nativity:

Duration:

Commonness:

Hydrilla verticillata

Waterthyme

Habitat

Submerged except flowers in streams, ponds, and lakes.

Stems and roots

Rooted. Vertical stems are highly branched. Has horizontal stems in the substrate that sometimes form tubers.

Leaves

In sessile whorls of 4 to 8 ①. Serrate ②. Tip is acute.

Flowers and seeds

Female flowers translucent, sometimes with a purple tinge.

Additional facts

Likely native to Asia, Africa, and/or Australia. Not yet spreading in Utah, but if found, report it to the county weed supervisor for that area. Can be distinguished from E. densa (pg. 5) and E. canadensis (pg. 7) by serrate leaf margins.

See the little teeth? Those are the serrate leaf margins. They are a distinguishing feature of this species.

Nativity: AIS

Duration: P

Commonness: NA

This species has not yet been found in Utah.

The sporangia are in here!

Isoetes bolanderi ISOETACEAE

Bolander’s quillwort

Habitat

Ponds and lakes. Typically entirely submerged, but can survive emerged.

Stems and roots

Fleshy underground stem. Roots branch dichotomously.

Leaves

Leaves of 6 to 25 emerging from underground stem ①. Quill-like, gradually tapering from the base, up to 15 cm long.

Reproduction

Spores contained in sporangia at the base of leaves ②. Macrospores (female spores) white to blueish and and covered in bumps or wrinkles.

Nativity: N Duration: P

Commonness: U

Isoetes echinospora ISOETACEAE

Spiny-spored quillwort

Habitat

Ponds and lakes in shallow, clear water. Typically entirely submerged, but can survive emerged.

Stems and roots

Fleshy underground stem. Roots branch dichotomously.

Leaves

Wide rosette of leaves emerging from the underground stem ①. Lighter green at base. Quill-like, up to 10 cm.

Reproduction

Spores contained in sporangia at the base of leaves.

Macrospores (female spores) spiny ②.

Additional facts

Synonym: Isoetes tenella

Can be distinguished from I. bolanderi (pg. 9) by spines on macrospores (requires magnification).

Nativity:

Duration:

Commonness:

Myriophyllum sibiricum HALORAGACEAE

Northern watermilfoil

Habitat

Submerged except flowers in lakes and streams, shallow to deep water ①.

Stems and roots

Rooted. Stem whitish or tan, sometimes with reddish tint.

Leaves

Leaves in whorls of four. Simply pinnate with 4 to 11 segments on each side of the central leaf axis ②.

Flowers and seeds

Whorled spike that emerges from the water ③.

Additional facts

Forms winter buds (turions) that look like sections of the plant with very condensed leaves. Can hybridize with the invasive M. spicatum (pg. 12), so genetic testing may be necessary for identification.

Nativity: N Duration: P Commonness: C

Leaves are pinnate, meaning there are leaflets on either side of a central axis.

Leaves are in whorls of four.

This species has more leaflet pairs than M. sibiricum.

Myriophyllum spicatum HALORAGACEAE

Eurasian watermilfoil

Habitat

Submerged except flowers in lakes, ponds, slowmoving streams ①.

Stems and roots

Rhizomatous with branching leafy shoots. Up to 2.5 m long. Stems reddish brown to pinkish.

Leaves

In whorls of 3 to 5. Simply pinnate with 12 or more segments on each side of the central leaf axis ②.

Flowers and seeds

Flowers and seeds on spike above the surface of the water. Small, inconspicuous, white to pink.

Additional facts

Can hybridize with the native M. sibiricum (pg. 11), so genetic testing may be necessary for identification.

Nativity:

Duration:

Commonness: C

PlantsinthegenusMyriophyllumhave whorled leaves,meaningthey emergefromasinglenode in aringaroundthestem.

This

Najas marina HYDROCHARITACEAE

Spiny naiad

Habitat

Entirely submerged in lakes and ponds.

Stems and roots

Rooted. Stems branched ① with large teeth on internodes ②.

Leaves

Brittle, linear, opposite to somewhat alternate. Rigid and curved. Teeth on margins of leaves and occasionally the midrib of the leaf.

Flowers and seeds

Flowers in leaf axils. Seeds ovoid.

Nativity: N

Duration: A

Commonness: U

is a tooth on the internode (the area of the stem between leaf nodes).

This is the terminal lobe, which is larger than the lobes on the sides of the leaf.

Nasturtium officinale BRASSICACEAE

Watercress

Habitat

Can be submerged, emerged, or floating in clear waters of slow-running streams and in or near cold springs

Stems and roots

Rooted. Stems glabrous, sometimes rooting at the nodes.

Leaves

Pinnately compound with 3–9 segments. Ovate to oval.

Terminal lobe is larger than the lobes on sides ②. Somewhat fleshy.

Flowers and seeds

White, four-petaled flowers. Fruit is a pod that curves upward.

Additional facts

Edible. Synonym: Rorippa nasturtium-aquaticum

Nativity:

Duration:

Commonness:

Nuphar polysepala NYMPHAEACEAE

Great yellow waterlily

Habitat

Floating, emergent, or rarely submerged in mountain ponds and lakes, especially where scoured by glacial activity.

Roots

Rhizomatous. Leaves arise directly from rhizomes.

Leaves

Ovate and sagittately lobed on the base. 8–25 cm long. Leathery.

Flowers and seeds

Stigma broad, forming a circular disk. Sepals 5–12, yellow or tinged with green or red. Petals yellow to purple ①. Fruit is ovoid and 4–6 cm long.

Nativity: N

Duration: P Commonness: U

These notches in the leaves create the sagittately lobed shape.

Nymphaea odorata

American white waterlily

Habitat

Floating in ponds and springs.

Roots

Rhizomatous. Leaves arise directly from rhizomes.

Leaves

Round, basally sagittately lobed, leathery ①.

Flowers and seeds

Stigma broad, forming a circular disk. Many petals, pink to white ②–③.

Additional facts

Introduced in Utah but native in other parts of the United States.

Nativity: I

Duration: P

Commonness: O

The leaf veins are pinnate, meaning they branch in pairs off a central axis.

Polygonum amphibium POLYGONACEAE

Water smartweed

Habitat

Floating in springs, streams, ponds, lakes, reservoirs, and irrigation canals.

Stems and roots

Rhizomes or stolons. Stems floating or erect.

Leaves

Length of 3–18 cm, lanceolate to oblong, obtuse to square basally, acute to round tip.

Flowers and seeds

Flowers bright pink on spike-like panicles. Fruit brown and lenticular ①.

Additional facts

Synonym: Persicaria amphibia. Floating leaves can be distinguished from Potamogeton nodosus (pg. 23) by the pinnate leaf venation ②.

Nativity: N

Duration: P Commonness:

Leaves and stems have reddish tint.

POTAMOGETONACEAE

Potamogeton alpinus

Alpine pondweed

Habitat

Submerged except flowers in streams, ponds, and lakes.

Stems and roots

Rooted. Stems reddish brown, simple or rarely branched

Leaves

Submerged leaves 0.5–2 cm wide, 4–18 cm long, translucent, obtuse. Floating leaves oblanceolate, translucent, and tapering ②. Leaves may have red tint.

Flowers and seeds

Spikes dense and compact, 5 to 9 whorls. Flowers greenish to red.

Additional facts

Floating leaves thinner (more membranous) than P. gramineus, P. natans, and P. nodosus. Can be distinguished from P. praelongus by absence of whitish zigzag stems.

Nativity:

Duration:

Commonness:

Potamogeton crispus POTAMOGETONACEAE

Curly-leaf pondweed

Habitat

Submerged except flowers in ponds and streams, often abundant in quiet calcareous water.

Stems and roots

Stem simple or branched. Rhizome reddish, about the same thickness as the stem.

Leaves

Bright green to dark green or reddish. Very characteristic wavy leaf margins ①.

Flowers and seeds

Flowers on spikes above water's surface. Fruits are achenes with a beak and keel.

Additional facts

Seldom found fruiting. Often reproduces by fragments or turions ②. Aboveground biomass dies off in summer.

Thecurlyleaf marginisaclear distinguishing feature.

Nativity:

Duration: P

Commonness: C

This is a turion, or a winter bud.

Seeds have a keel, or prominent ridge along the edge.longest

Potamogeton foliosus POTAMOGETONACEAE

Leafy pondweed

Habitat

Entirely submerged in fresh (mostly calcareous) or brackish water of ponds, irrigation ditches, and streams.

Stems and roots

Rhizome freely branching, rooting at nodes. Stem simple below, branched above.

Leaves

Grass-like leaves, green to bronze, up to 10 cm long. Entire margins. Acute or subacute tip. Leaves are very flat ①.

Flowers and seeds

Flowers/fruits on spikes. Fruits suborbicular with dorsal keel.

Additional facts

Can be distinguished from P. pusillus (pg. 25) by presence of obvious keel on the fruit

Nativity:

Duration:

Commonness:

Potamogeton gramineus POTAMOGETONACEAE

Variable-leaf pondweed

Habitat

Submerged and floating in ponds, lakes, and slow streams.

Stems and roots

Rhizomatous. Stems slender.

Leaves

Floating leaves on petioles, leaves are usually shorter than petioles ①. Submerged leaves abundant, sessile, linear to lanceolate ②.

Flowers and seeds

Flowers and fruits on compact spikes. Fruits keeled.

Additional facts

Leaves are variable (hence the name!). Can resemble other Potamogeton species.

Nativity: N Duration: P Commonness: C

These are the floating leaves...

...and these are the submerged leaves!

Theleavessubmerged are not very wide.

Potamogeton natans POTAMOGETONACEAE

Floating pondweed

Habitat

Submerged and floating in marshy ponds and lakes, often brackish.

Stems and roots

Stems branch from rhizome. Stems usually simple.

Leaves

Submerged leaves very thin, up to 2 mm wide ①. Floating leaves often subcordate at base ②.

Flowers and seeds

Flowers and fruits on spikes. Peduncles are 1.5 to 3 times as long as the spike. Fruit are strongly keeled.

Additional facts

This is the subcordate leaf base.

Submerged leaves are less wide than P. gramineus (pg. 21) and P. nodosus (pg. 23), and floating leaf bases are subcordate.

Nativity:

Duration:

Commonness:

Submerged leaf.

Flowering spike.

Potamogeton nodosus POTAMOGETONACEAE

Longleaf pondweed

Submerged and floating in streams and lakes.

Stems and roots flat, covered or spotted with rusty red. Stem , often pressing very flat.

The leaf veins are parallel.

Has both floating and submerged leaves ①. Submerged leaves thin, up to 20 cm long with white veins. Floating leaves with long petioles, lenticular to elliptical ③.

Flowers and seeds

Green to brown flowers on spike ②. Seed keels prominent.

Additional facts

Floating leaves can be distinguished from P. amphibium (pg. 17) by parallel venation and from other floating-leaf Potamogeton species by its long petioles.

Nativity: N

Duration: P

Commonness:

White, zigzag stem.

POTAMOGETONACEAE

Potamogeton praelongus

Whitestem pondweed

Habitat

Entirely submerged in deep cold water lakes and slow-moving streams.

Stems and roots

Rooted. Stems whitish to olive green, zigzag ①, simple or occasionally branched.

Leaves

leafBoat-shaped tip. pressedWhen flat between your fingers, the tip will split in two.

Leaves all submerged, oblong-lanceolate, cordate or clasping at the stem, translucent stipule ②.

Flowers and seeds

Spikes compact with 6 to 12 whorls of greenish flowers. Fruit has acute dorsal keel.

Additional facts

The boat-shaped leaf tip ③ and zigzag stem can distinguish this species from other Potamogeton spp.

Nativity:

Duration:

Commonness:

Potamogeton pusillus POTAMOGETONACEAE

Small pondweed

Habitat

Entirely submerged in neutral or slightly brackish or alkaline ponds and rivers.

Stems and roots

Rooted, but no rhizome. Stem highly branched ①. Usually a pair of translucent glands at nodes. Late in the season, branches often have winter buds.

Leaves

Linear, entire, light green ②. Up to 7 cm long and 3 mm wide.

Flowers and seeds

Spikes with 3 to 5 separate whorls of flowers. Seed keels are indistinct.

Additional facts

Can be distinguished from P. foliosus (pg. 20) by lack of obvious keel on the fruit and presence of winter bud.

Nativity:

Duration:

Commonness:

Leaves aroundclaspingthe stem.

Potamogeton richardsonii POTAMOGETONACEAE

Richardson’s pondweed

Habitat

Entirely submerged in shallow ponds, lakes, and slowmoving streams ①.

Stems and roots

Rooted. Stems round and sparingly branched.

Leaves

Ovate-lanceolate, 3–10 cm long and 1–2 cm wide.

Clasping at the base ②. Margins a little wavy. Acute tip.

Flowers and seeds

Spikes crowded. Flowers large and greenish. Dorsal keel low and rounded.

Additional facts

Synonym: Potamogeton perfoliatus ssp. richardsonii. Distinguishable by clasping leaf bases and pointed leaf tip.

Nativity:

Duration:

Commonness:

Leaves are finely dissected.

Ranunculus aquatilis RANUNCULACEAE

White water crowfoot

Habitat

Floating and submerged in ponds, streams, pools, and springs, often in swift-flowing water

Stems and roots

.

Stems submerged, rooting at the lowest nodes.

Leaves

Submerged leaves finely dissected in sets of three that look like crows’ feet ②. Alternate.

Flowers and seeds

Five petals, white, sometimes with yellow bases. Sepals light green. Fruit an achene.

Additional facts

Synonym: Ranunculus trichophyllus

Nativity: N

Duration: P

Commonness:

Spiral ditchgrass

Habitat

Entirely submerged in shallow, brackish water.

Stems and roots

Stems grow from rhizomes. Stems up to 80 cm high.

Leaves

Checkoutthe

peduncle!

Thread-like leaves, not numerous ①. An expanded sheath is present at the base of most leaves.

Flowers and seeds

Flowers and seeds are on a long, spiraling stalk (peduncle) ②–③.

Additional facts

Holds its shape out of water more than the grass-like species in Potamogetonaceae.

Commonness:

N

P

Sagittaria cuneata ALISMATACEAE

Arumleaf arrowhead

Habitat

Submerged to emergent in shallow ponds, lakes, and streams.

Stems and roots

Leaves arise directly from tubers.

Leaves

Submerged leaves are flat and linear with prominent midvein. Floating/emerged leaves are on long petioles and are sagittately lobed ①–②.

Flowers and seeds

Flowers on long stalk in whorls of three. Each flower has three round, white petals ③.

Additional facts

Tubers are edible and have a potato-like texture.

Nativity:

Duration:

Commonness:

Floatingandemerged leavesareshapedlike submergedarrows,whereaslinearleavesare .

Inthegenus

Stuckenia,stipules are attached to the base ofthe leaf.

Stuckenia filiformis

Fineleaf pondweed

Habitat

Entirely submerged in brackish waters: ponds, slow streams, and ditches ①.

Stems and roots

Rooted. Stems slender, branchy.

Leaves

Slender, thread-like. Up to 12 cm long and 0.5 mm wide, blunt or obtuse ②.

Flowers and seeds

Flowers and fruit on spike ③. Peduncle up to 10 cm long. Fruit beak short, wartlike, nearly central.

Additional facts

Synonym: Potamogeton filiformis

Branching is not as fan-like as S. pectinata (pg. 31), and leaf tips are blunt.

Leaftips areblunt.

Nativity:

Duration:

Commonness:

Stuckenia pectinata POTAMOGETONACEAE

Sago pondweed

Habitat

Entirely submerged in alkaline, brackish, or saline water of ponds, quiet rivers, and marshes.

Stems and roots

Thisfanlike shapeispretty distinctive.

Rhizome creeping, with small tubers. Stem round or slightly compressed, abundantly branched near summit (fanlike) ①.

Leaves

Leaves threadlike, entire, up to 15 cm long and 1 mm wide. Leaf tip is an acute point (sometimes obtuse on young seedlings).

Flowers and seeds

Spikes with 2 to 5 whorls of sessile flowers ②. No dorsal keel on seed.

Additional facts

Synonyms: Potamogeton pectinatus, Coleogeton pectinatus

This

Can be distinguished from other species of Stuckenia by acute leaf tips and fanlike shape.

Nativity: N

Duration: P Commonness:

is the inflorescence.

Stuckenia striata POTAMOGETONACEAE

Broadleaf pondweed

Habitat

Entirely submerged in quiet or flowing fresh or brackish water

.

Stems and roots

Rhizome creeping, rooting freely at the nodes. Stem whitish, simple below, repeatedly branched above.

Leaves

Linear, entire, green to bronze, rather opaque, up to 5 mm wide, tip obtuse to rounded ②.

Flowers and seeds

Spikes on peduncles. Fruits ovoid with convex sides.

Additional facts

Leaves much wider than the other species in Stuckenia.

Nativity: N

Duration: P Commonness: U

Stuckenia vaginata POTAMOGETONACEAE

Sheathed pondweed

Habitat

Entirely submerged in ponds, streams, and lakes.

Stems

Rooted. Stems round, greenish, and branching.

Leaves

Threadlike to linear. 1–2 mm wide. Rounded or obtuse at the tip. Stipules joined to the base of the leaf, forming a closed, clasping sheath around the stem ①. This sheath is usually brownish and swollen.

Flowers and seeds

Spike with 4–9 evenly spaced whorls. Flowers small and brownish. Fruit with inconspicuous dorsal keel.

Additional facts

Synonym: Potamogeton vaginatus. Distinguishable by leaf sheath.

Nativity:

Duration:

Commonness:

Large,clasping stipulesheath.

Utricularia macrorhiza LENTIBULARIACEAE

Common bladderwort

Habitat

Submerged except flowers in deep to shallow quiet water.

Stems and roots

No roots. Stems up to 2 m long, floating just below the water's surface.

Leaves

Leaves are much-dissected, with numerous large bladders ①. Featherlike branches of foliage ②.

Flowers and seeds

Flowers emerge out of the water ③. Yellow with brown or orange vertical stripe. Seeds brown.

Additional facts

Synonym: U. vulgaris

Plants in the genus Utricularia are carnivorous.

Nativity:

Commonness: C

These are the “bladders” where the plant can trap and digest prey.

Utricularia minor LENTIBULARIACEAE

Lesser bladderwort

Habitat

Submerged except flowers in shallow ponds and lakes, growing along the bottom or floating.

Roots

Does not have roots but can affix to the substrate.

Leaves

Alternate, 4–10 mm long and branching. Bladders are found on leaves and are 1–2 mm long ①.

Flowers

Flowers are emergent, yellow ②, and 5–9 mm long. The spur is short or lacking.

Additional facts

Plants in the genus Utricularia are carnivorous.

Nativity: N

Duration: P

Commonness: U

These are the seeds, or “horns”. They are a clearfeaturediagnostic of this species.

Zannichellia POTAMOGETONACEAE

Horned pondweed

Habitat

Entirely submerged in ponds, lakes, marshes, streams, and irrigation canals.

Stems and roots

Rhizome creeping, stem slender, Leaves

Mostly opposite. Linear or threadlike 10 cm long. Acute at the tip. Leaves flat.

Flowers and seeds

Flowers in axil. Seeds banana

Additional facts

Easily distinguished from other species in Potamogetonaceae by its banana

Fruits and foliage eaten by waterfowl and fish.

Nativity: N

Duration: P

Pondweed Key

Trust me, we hear ya—the pondweeds are tricky! Here’s a key for figuring them out. This key includes only the members of the family

Potamogetonaceae that are included in this guide.

1. Stipules clasping leaf base (2)

1. Stipules free from the leaf (5)

2 [1]. Leaves less than 2 mm wide (3)

In brackets is the number that broughthere.you

Select the statement that applies to the plant you are trying to identify, and follow the number in the parentheses until you reach a species name!

2. Leaves greater than 2 mm wide…..…..…..…..…..…..…..…..….…..…..……..…..…..…. Stuckenia striata (pg.32)

3 [2]. Sheathed stipules not inflated (4)

3. Sheathed stipules inflated, 2–3 times as thick as the stem…..…..……..…..……….....

4 [3]. Leaf tips blunt or obtuse

4. Leaf tips acute, leaves branch like a fan

5 [1]. Floating leaves absent or similar in shape to submerged leaves (6)

5. Floating leaves present and different in shape from submerged leaves (11)

6 [5]. Flowers and seeds on spike (7)

6. Flowers and seeds in axil, seeds banana-shaped…..….…..…..…….…..….

7 [6]. Leaves less than 3 mm wide (8)

7. Leaves are greater than 3 mm wide (9)

S. vaginata (pg. 33)

S. filiformis (pg. 30)

S. pectinata (pg. 31)

Zannichellia palustris (pg. 36)

8 [7]. Dorsal keel on fruit

8. Dorsal keel on fruit absent

9 [7]. Leaf margin is slightly wavy, entire (10)

9. Leaf margin is very wavy, serrate

10 [9]. Leaf tip is boat-shaped

10. Leaf tip is sharply pointed

11 [5]. Submerged leaves sessile (12)

11. Submerged leaves on long petiole

12 [11]. Submerged leaves greater than 2 mm wide (13)

12. Submerged leaves less than 2 mm wide

13 [12]. Floating leaves tapering to petiole

13. Floating leaves typically rounded at base

18)

GLOSSARY

achene: a small, dry fruit with a single seed

alternate: a single leaf arises from each node, alternating sides as they go up the stem

axil: angle between the leaf and the stem bearing the leaf

axis: a stem on which parts are arranged

beak: a long, substantial point

bladder: hollow, submerged structure used to trap and digest prey

brackish: water with moderate concentration of dissolved substances, especially salts

calcareous: containing an excess of calcium that is available to be absorbed

clasping: leaf bases wrap around the stem

commonness: a description of the occurrence of species

Note. In this guide, we used BONAP5 maps to determine commonness. If the species was described as “present and not rare” in >30% of Utah counties, it is noted as ”common; in <30% of counties, “uncommon”; and in <10% of counties, “occasional.” I

cordate: heart-shaped with a notched base

dichotomous: in pairs

dorsal: pertaining to the back, away from the main line/central part

elliptical: shaped like an oval, broadest in the center

entire: leaf margin void of indentations, lobes, or teeth

glabrous: without hair

internode: the part of the stem between two adjacent nodes

invasive species: non-native, spreading prolifically, and disrupting ecosystems

keel: a prominent ridge along the longest edge

lanceolate: a shape that is longer than wide, tapering to a point with petiole at wide end

lenticular: convex on both sides, lentil-shaped

linear: long and narrow shaped, with near-parallel sides

node: section of stem where leaves originate

oblanceolate: a shape that is longer than wide, tapering to a point with petiole at the narrow end

oblong: shape that is longer than wide, sides near parallel

opposite: occurring two at a node on opposite sides of the stem

ovate: egg-shaped, petiole at widest end

ovoid: egg-shaped

panicle: a compound inflorescence, in which the axis is branched one or more times

peduncle: the stem of a solitary flower or the main stem of the flower cluster

petiole: stalk of the leaf

pinnate: leaflets arranged on opposite sides of the leaf axis

rhizomatous: proliferating by means of underground, horizontal stems

rhizome: thick, horizontal underground stems

sagittate: shaped like an arrow

sepal: a single part of the outermost whorl of flower organs

serrate: having marginal teeth pointing forward

sessile: joined directly to the base without a stalk or petiole

sheath: a tubular tissue enclosing another tissue, usually referring to the area where a leaf base encloses the stem

simple: neither branched nor otherwise compound

spike: an inflorescence consisting of a long axis with unstalked flowers

sporangia: an enclosure in which spores are formed

spur: a hollow, elongate, pointed, or blunt outgrowth on the flower

stigma: the part of the flower that receives the pollen

stipule: an appendage frequently occurring at the base of a leaf

stolon: long, horizontal, creeping stem, rooting at nodes

subacute: between acute and obtuse

subcordate: somewhat cordate

suborbicular: roughly spherical

substrate: the surface or material on or from which the plant lives, grows, or obtains its nourishment

thalli: plants that are not clearly divided into stem and leaf (singular: thallus)

tuber: thickened portion of rhizome bearing nodes and buds

turion: small, overwintering shoot

vascular: plant tissues have a system of vessels that transports water and nutrients

venation: the pattern of veins

whorl: a ring of leaves, flower parts, or flowers occurring at a single node

REFERENCES

1. Correll, D. S., & Correll, H. B. (1972). Aquatic and wetland plants of southwestern United States. Environmental Protection Agency.

2. Downard, R., Frank, M., Perkins, J., Kettenring, K., & Larese-Casanova, M. (2017). Wetland plants of Great Salt Lake, A guide to identification, communities, & bird habitat. Utah State University Extension.

3. Fertig, W. (2016). Plant fact sheet for common duckweed (Lemna minor). United States Department of Agriculture Forest Service. https://www.fs.fed.us/wildflowers/plant-of-the-week/lemna_minor.shtml

4. Godfrey, R. K., & Wooten, J. W. (1979). Aquatic and wetland plants of southeastern United States: Monocotyledons. University of Georgia Press.

5. Kartesz, J. T. (2015). North American plant atlas. The Biota of North America Program (BONAP). http://bonap.net/napa

6. Skawinski, P. M. (2019). Aquatic plants of the Upper Midwest (4th ed.). P. Skawinski.

7. Texas A&M AgriLife Extension Service. (2022). Fact sheet for muskgrass (Chara). AquaPlant: A diagnostics tool for pond plants and algae. https://aquaplant.tamu.edu/plant-identification/alphabetical-index/muskgrass/

8. USDA, NRCS. 2022. (2022). The PLANTS database. National Plant Data Team. http://plants.usda.gov

9. Welsh, S. L., Atwood, N. D., Goodrich, S., & Higgins, L. C. (1993). A Utah flora (2nd ed.). Brigham Young University.

PHOTO CREDITS

Page 1: Azolla microphylla

Background* & Inset*: 葉⼦, license1 , link: inaturalist.org/observations/57801308,

Photo 1: Jon D. Anderson, license2 , link: flickr.com/photos/jon_d_anderson/37120261412

Page 2: Ceratophyllum demersum

Photo 1*: Jacopo Werther, license3 , link: commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Ceratophyllum_demersum_(8443788275).jpg

Photo 2*: Patrick Hacker, license4 , link: inaturalist.org/photos/151073728

Photo 3*: Zihao Wang, license4 , link: inaturalist.org/observations/132046928

Photo 4: Kate Sinnott

Page 3: Chara spp.

Background & Photos 1 & 2: Kate Sinnott

Page 4: Duckweeds

Background*: Kevin Thiele, license3 , link: flickr.com/photos/66951228@N07/6280656204

Photo 1: Peter de Lange, license1 , link: inaturalist.org/observations/1562651

Photo 2*: John Walter, license5 , link: inaturalist.org/observations/144471326

Photo 3: Igor Balashov, license4 , link: inaturalist.org/observations/92248018

Page 5: Egeria densa

Background*: 葉⼦, license1 , link: inaturalist.org/observations/39527616

Photo 1: Vasily Vishnyakov, license5 , link: inaturalist.org/observations/144918578

Photo 2*: heikindai_87, license1 , link: inaturalist.org/observations/76092674

Page 6: Eichhornia crassipes

Background*: Irina Bobyleva, license5 , link: inaturalist.org/observations/144998171

Photo 1: Djowers, license5 , link: inaturalist.org/observations/148763605

Photo 2*: Lucía Poccioni, license5 , link: inaturalist.org/observations/148211060

Page 7: Elodea canadensis

Background*: Irina Hohryakova, license4 , link: inaturalist.org/observations/128567872

Photo 1º: Christian Fischer, license6 , link: commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:ElodeaCanadensis.jpg

Page 8: Hydrilla verticillata

Photo 1*: H.T. Cheng, license5, link: inaturalist.org/observations/164782100

Photo 2: Eric C. Maxwell, license5, link: inaturalist.org/observations/156808124

Page 9: Isoetes bolanderi

Background*: Faerthen Felix, license5 , link: inaturalist.org/observations/89788833

Photo 1: Timothy McNitt , license4 , link: inaturalist.org/observations/102241006

Photo 2: Steve Matson, license5 , link: inaturalist.org/observations/66385070

Page 10: Isoetes echinospora

Background*: Timothy McNitt , license4 , link: inaturalist.org/observations/135639045

Photos 1* & 2*: Nate Martineau, license5 , link: inaturalist.org/observations/130327543

Page 11: Myriophyllum sibiricum

Photo 1*: Lew Stringer, license5 , link: inaturalist.org/observations/81581890

Photo 2*: Yaroslav Magazov, license5 , link: inaturalist.org/observations/138845114

Photo 3*: Allan Harris, license1 , link: inaturalist.org/observations/37633691

Page 12: Myriophyllum spicatum

Background*: Kent McFarland, license1 , link: inaturalist.org/observations/6971261

Photo 1*: Bonnie Isaac, license1 , link: inaturalist.org/observations/56414012

Photo 2*: Natalie, license5 , link: inaturalist.org/observations/128242655

Page 13: Najas marina

Background*: Татьяна Горбушина, license1 , link: inaturalist.org/observations/89160575

Photo 1: Lalithamba, license3 , link: commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Najas_minor_Ali_-_Flickr_- lalithamba.jpg

Photo 2º: Stephan Lefnaer, license7 , link: commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Najas_marina_sl11.jpg

Page 14: Nasturtium officinale

Background*: Matthew Fainman, license4 , link: inaturalist.org/observations/99241226

Photo 1: Patrick Alexander, license1 , link: inaturalist.org/observations/90433050

Photo 2: Patrick Hacker, license4 , link: commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Nasturtium_officinale_154629037.jpg

Page 15: Nuphar polysepala

Background*: John Rusk, license3 , link: flickr.com/photos/john_d_rusk/9381302186

Photo 1º: Brocken Inaglory, license6 , link: commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Nuphar_polysepala_in_Yellowstone_National_Park_cropped.JPG

Page 16: Nymphaea odorata

Photo 1*: Per Verdonk, license8 , link: flickr.com/photos/per_verdonk/50017718417

Photo 2º: Simon Pierre Barrette, license6 , link: commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Nymphaea_odorata_PP.jpg

Photo 3: Cbaile19, license1 , link: commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Nymphaea_odorata,_2015-06-02,_Homewood_Cemetery,_01.jpg

Page 17: Polygonum amphibium

Backgroundº: Sander van der Molen, license6 , link: commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Persicaria_amphibia-01_(xndr).jpg

Photo 1º: NobbiP, license6 , link: commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Wasser-Kn%C3%B6terich_Persicaria_amphibia_6349.jpg

Photo 2º˟ : Crusier, license6 , link: commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Persicaria_amphibia_flower.JPG

Page 18: Potamogeton alpinus

Photo 1*: Gennadiy Okatov, license5 , link: inaturalist.org/observations/41156130

Photo 2*: Alexander Bobrov, license9 , link: commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Potamogeton_alpinus,_robust_form_(the_River._Uftyuga,_Vologda_reg.,_Russia).jpg

Page 19: Potamogeton crispus

Background*: Kate Sinnott

Photo 1: Jacopo Werther, license3 , link: https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Potamogeton_crispus_(8405383322)_(cropped).jpg

Photo 2º*: Kristian Peters, license6 , link: commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Potamogeton_crispus_ueberdauerungsform.jpeg

Page 20: Potamogeton foliosus

Background*: John Kees, license1 , link: inaturalist.org/observations/98447939

Photo 1*: Patricia Butter, license5 , link: inaturalist.org/observations/134682723

Photo 2*: Zihao Wang, license4 , link: inaturalist.org/observations/134195734

Page 21: Potamogeton gramineus

Photo 1*º: William Starkey, license10 , link: geograph.org.uk/photo/4015993

Photo 2*º: Tristan He, license7 , link: commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Potamogeton_gramineus_cultivated.JPG

Page 22: Potamogeton natans

Background*º & Photo 2º: Stephan Lefnaer, license7 , link: commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Potamogeton_natans_sl4.jpg

Photo 1*: Andre Hosper, license5 , link: inaturalist.org/observations/21600591

Page 23: Potamogeton nodosus

Backgroundº: Krzysztof Ziarnek, license7 , link: commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Potamogeton_nodosus_kz02.jpg

Photo 1*: Roman_romanov, license5 , link: inaturalist.org/observations/140192183

Photo 2*: Annika Lindqvist, license4 , link: inaturalist.org/observations/12436907

Photo 3º˟ : Stephan Lefnaer, license7, link: commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Potamogeton_nodosus_sl16.jpg

Page 24: Potamogeton praelongus

Photo 1*: Robert W. Harding, license5, link: inaturalist.org/observations/84464728

Photo 2: Peter Jpt29, license5 , link: inaturalist.org/observations/55439263

Photo 3*: John Klymko, license5 , link: inaturalist.org/observations/73647496

Page 25: Potamogeton pusillus

Background*: Graham_g, license5 , link: inaturalist.org/observations/165302841

Photo 1º: Stefan Lefnaer, license7 , link: https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Potamogeton_pusillus_s._str._sl7.jpg

Photo 2º: Stefan Lefnaer, license7, link: commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Potamogeton_pusillus_s._str._sl11.jpg

Page 26: Potamogeton richardsonii

Photo 1: Dick Cannings, license5 , link: inaturalist.org/observations/90077591

Photo 2: Rob Routledge, license5 , link: inaturalist.org/observations/59939872

Page 27: Ranunculus aquatilis

Photo 1: Kate Sinnott

Photo 2*: Rob Foster, license4 , link: inaturalist.org/observations/133327048

Page 28: Ruppia cirrhosa

Photos 1 & 2: Kate Sinnott

Photo 3*: João Farminhão, license5 , link: flora-on.pt/#/hgW3b

Page 29: Sagittaria cuneata

Background*: Braden J. Judson, license1 , link: inaturalist.org/observations/135846828

Photo 1: Trevor Zook, license5 , link: inaturalist.org/observations/135706615

Photo 2: Sean Blaney, license5 , link: inaturalist.org/observations/134365128

Photo 3: Larry H. Moore, license5 , link: inaturalist.org/observations/132701896

Page 30: Stuckenia filiformis

Photos 1* & 3: Tyson Ehlers, license5 , link: inaturalist.ca/observations/56159693

Photo 2*: Reuvan Martin, license1 , link: inaturalist.ca/observations/29477829

Page 31: Stuckenia pectinata

Background: François-Xavier Taxil, license5 , inaturalist.org/observations/136572204

Photo 1*: Erin Faulkner, license5 , link: inaturalist.org/observations/135191464

Photo 2: Татьяна Горбушина, license1 , link: inaturalist.org/observations/129941234

Page 32: Stuckenia striata

Background & Photos 1* & 2: Daniel Montesinos T, license5, link: inaturalist.ca/observations/59963150

Page 33: Stuckenia vaginata

Photo 1*º: Håkan Sandsten, license6 , link: commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Stuckenia_vaginata.jpg

Page 34: Utricularia macrorhiza

Photo 1º: H. Zell, license6, link: commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Utricularia_vulgaris_002.JPG

Photo 2*º: H. Zell, license6, link: commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Utricularia_vulgaris_003.JPG

Photo 3: Kristine A. Olsen, license5, link: inaturalist.org/observations/148643732

Page 35: Utricularia minor

Background*º: Andreas Fleischman, license6 , link: commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Utricularia_minor_plant_(01).jpg

Photo 1º: Andrea Moro, license6 , link: commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Utricularia_minor_traps_(05).jpg

Photo 2: Felix Riegal, license5 , link: inaturalist.org/observations/145960801

Page 36: Zannichellia palustris

Background: Kate Sinnott

Photo 1: Skfork, license5 , link: inaturalist.org/observations/74334905

Photo 2º: Stephan Lefnaer, license7 , link: commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Zannichellia_palustris_subsp._palustris_sl18.jpg

*Image has been cropped from the original ºImage is licensed under its original license

˟Image has been modified from the original to highlight plant characteristics

PHOTO LICENSES

1) CC0 1.0: creativecommons.org/publicdomain/zero/1.0/

2) CC BY-NC-ND 2.0 creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-nd/2.0/

3) CC BY 2.0: creativecommons.org/licenses/by/2.0/

4) CC BY 4.0: creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/

5) CC BY-NC 4.0: creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc/4.0/

6) CC BY-SA 3.0 creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/3.0/

7) CC BY-SA 4.0: creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/

8) CC BY-NC 2.0: creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc/2.0/

9) CC BY 3.0: creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0/

10) CC BY-SA 2.0: creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/2.0/

COVER AND INTRO PAGES

Photos by Kate Sinnott

Species pictured:

Pages iv-v: Potamogeton nodosus (pg. 23)

Front: Ranunculus aquatilis (pg. 27)

Back: Potamogeton crispus (pg. 19),

Ranunculus aquatilis (pg. 27), and

Zannichellia palustris (pg. 36)