Flowering Aquatic Plants Flashcards
Four stages of development for flowering plants
- Seedling
- Vegetative
- Reproductive
- Mature
Annual
Plants that complete all stages of development in one season
Perennial
Plants that complete all four growth stages in the first year and then repeat the vegetative, reproductive, and mature stages during the following year.
Biennial
Plants that complete their life cycle in two years- seedling and vegetative stage in year 1 and reproductive and mature stages in year 2.
Seeds
Small reproductive structures formed by some flowering plants. Seeds can be dispersed over long distances, withstand harsh conditions, and many can be produced by one plant.
Fragmentation
When a small piece of a flowering plant breaks off, is moved to a new location, and grows into a new plant.
Tubers
A small, fleshy structure like a potato, that grows into a root or rhizome, usually underground. When the tuber breaks away from the root or rhizome it can form a new plant. Tubers store large amounts of nutrients.
Turions
A thick bud that grows at the base of a leaf. The bud can break off, float away, and form a new plant. Usually produced in the winter.
American Eelgrass
A submersed, rooted aquatic plant that is found in lakes, ponds, and slow rivers. Eelshrass has long, ribbonlike leaves that rise from the base of the plant, resembling eels. Seldom a problem in VA and is sometimes planted to attract waterfowl.
Brazilian Elodea
Submerses, rooted perennial found at the bottom of lakes or floating freely on the surface. It has thin stems that branch where there’s two nodes close together along the stem- fragments containing these double nodes form a new plant. Can spread very fast and form dense mats that choke out other plants.
Canadian elodea
Looks very similar to Brazilian Elodea but only grows in flowing water. Rarely an issue in VA.
Coontail
Rootless, annual submersed plant that grows in quiet, clear water up to 20 feet deep. Grows up to 15 feet long and is rarely a problem in VA. Whorls resemble a raccoons tail.
Fanwort
Submersed annual plant with fanlike leaves. Rarely causes problems in VA.often confused with Chara but does not smell like garlic when crushed.
Hydrilla
Submersed perennial with long stems that emerge from a network of rhizomes. Can adapt to a wide range of pH and temperature levels. Highly invasive and outcompetes many other aquatic plants. Reproduces with turions and tubers; thick mats reduce oxygen levels in the water .
Naiad
Submersed annual plant with long, branched stems that grow several feet in length. Often beneficial on the bottom of water bodies but problematic when they grow to the surface. Hardy seeds allow plant to survive fluctuating water temperature levels.
Parrot feather
Submersed perennial where most of the plant is submersed, although the main branches often extend above the water surface. Has pale green, feathery leaves (often confused with Chara). Grows in late fall, winter, and early spring. Large surface mats hinder swimming, boating, etc.
Pondweed
Submersed perennial, Diverse group of aquatic plants where identifying features are difficult to distinguish between species. Water depth, speed of current, temperature, clarity, climate, and nutrients influence the growth and appearance.
Watermillfoil
Perennial that grows submersed or at the surface. Leaves have a feather like appearance, sometimes whorls of four flowers grow on emerged spikes. Problematic because it can grow in shallow and deep water, spreads rapidly.
American Lotus
Floating perennial found in slow moving water such as lakes or ponds. Typically see one floating leaf that is not clefted and is green on both sides. Native and not normally a nuisance. Often confused with water lily.
Azolla
Aquatic fern that grows in swamps lakes ponds and ditches along the coast. Easy to confuse with duckweed and watermeal. Exotic in Virginia and can grow in large masses very quickly. Stressed plants have red or purple leaves.
Bladderwort
Submersed or emerged free-floating perennial that lacks true roots and have bladder like structures on the leaves that capture small aquatic animals. Native and causes few problems.
Duckweed
Tiny, green, floating perennial often mistaken for algae. Flat, oval, leaf-like structures called fronds float on the surface with small roots extending from the underside. Native but can form layer several inches thick and shade out larger plants. Food for fish and waterfowl.
Water hyacinth
Showy, floating perennial with distinct purple flower and black feathery roots just below the surface. Rare in VA but exotic and can cause problems.
Water lily
Floating perennial plants with “lily pads” spreading horizontally across the surface. Cleft runs from center to the edge of each leaf. Native and best to leave alone- food for waterfowl (seeds) and cover for fish.
Watermeal
Smallest flowering plant known in the world. Often grows with duckweed and often appear as green specks or dots in the water. Native to VA but can grow very fast and sometimes shade out larger plants.
Water shield
Rooted, floating perennial that resembles water lily. Ocular leaves float on the surface where petiole attaches to the middle of the leaf. Native to VA and rarely causes problems.
Alligatorweed
Floating or emerged perennial that grows anywhere that moist and wet conditions persist year round. Unique appearance with whitish, scaly flowers in a round head at the end of a stalk, introduced from South America and can choke out native vegetation when large, dense mats form.
Bulrush
Emergent annual/perennial (depending on species) that grows in clumps. Height ranges from 2 inches to 6 ft. Valuable plant who’s triangular shaped stems survive in winter and provide cover for spawning fish and seeds that attract birds. Brownish clusters of flowers in summer
Cattail
Emerged perennial that is common and native. Distinct dark brown “spikes” on the top of the plant distinguish this highly-regarded wetland plant. Stabilizes banks, provides food and shelter for many species of wildlife.
Phragmites
Perennial emerged grass that prefers brackish water and salt marshes. Thin but tall stems. At the top, a large, yellowish brown pinnacle of flowers forms midsummer to fall. Very difficult to control once established.
Purple loosestrife
Erect perennial plat that grows in marshes and wetlands, reaching 2-7 ft tall. Lance shaped leaves with a heart shaped base. Easy to I’d when it blooms because it has numerous red-purple flowers in a slender spike at the top of the stem July-September. extremely invasive and should be reported to extension agent if found.
Smartweed
Emersed perennial that Varies in size.clusters of whitish pink flowers grow at the tops of the stem. Presence of large cores (portion of petiole that wraps around stem) distinguishes from other species. Exotic and native but both can cause problems.
Water primrose
Emersed plant that grows in shallow lakes and slow moving water. Flowers with 4-6 bright yellow petals arranged in a circle. Can grow in dense stands and cause problems.
Name the three most troublesome submersed aquatic plants in VA;
Brazilian Elodea, hydrilla, and Eurasian watermillfoil
Submersed aquatic plant that is an ANNUAL:
Naiad
Floating plant also known as snot-bonnet:
Watershield.
