Plant Identification
Emergent Plants
Emergent Plants
Emergent plants grow above the water in shallow areas of ponds, lakes, rivers, and irrigation ditches. They are generally
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American Lotus (Nelumbo lutea)
American Lotus: Floating leaves are circular with stems attached to the center of the leaf underside. Flowers are solitary pale yellow and are made up of numerous petals.
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Floating Heart or Banana Lily (Nympoides aquatica )
Floating Heart or Banana Lily: Banana lily is a perennial plant with leaves that arise from “banana-shaped” rhizomes on the long slender petioles. The floating leaves are 2 to 6 inches in diameter, kidney to heart-shaped, yellowish-green above and reddish-purple underneath, with obvious veins. Flowers are small, white, in clusters on short stalks that rise above the water’s surface. The fruits are capsule-like and contain many seeds. Late in the growing season clusters of fleshy, tuber-like roots
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Spatterdock or Cow Lily (Nuphar luteum)
Spatterdock or Cow Lily: Spatterdock is a perennial plant with leaves that arise from a large spongy rhizome. The leaves have a slit that makes them roughly heart-shaped, 8 to 16 inches long by 10 inches wide, and can float on the surface or stand above the surface on
![](https://lmslp.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/03/Water-lily1.jpg)
White Water Lily (Nymphaea odorata)
White Water Lily: The white water lily is a perennial plant that often
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Water Shield or Dollar Bonnet (Brasenia schreberi)
Water Shield or Dollar Bonnet: Water shield is a perennial plant with relatively small, floating oval to elliptical leaves (to 5 inches in diameter) with no slit. Water shield has a distinctive gelatinous slime on the underside of the leaves and coating the stems. Leaves are green above while the underside of leaves and stems are reddish-purple. Stems attach at the center of the leaves. Flowers are small (9 1/2 to 3/4 inch), rise above the surface, are dull-reddish in color and consist of 3 to 4 sepals and petals. Water shield tends to be found in soft, acidic waters and can form large colonies.