Water Lettuce (pistia stratiotes L.)
This plant resembles open heads of floating lettuce. It thrives best in still water or areas of minimal water flow, and is found in streams and wet ditches, canals and oxbows off main river channels. It grows as a free floating plant, and large clumps of water lettuce can impede water flow and boat traffic. Benifit: Provides nesting areas.
Duckweed (Lemna minor L.)
Found in swamps and lakes, canals and ponds, and roadside ditches. Large masses of this plant can impede boat travel and the growth of desirable plants. Benifit: Source of food for waterfowl.
Alligator Weed (Alternanthera philoxeroides)
Exotic plant native to South America. Found in wide ranges of water conditions and grows among other aquatic weed species. Dense mats can block boat traffic and impede water flow.
Water Spinach (Ipomoea aquatica fosh)
Called the aquatic morning-glory. A herbaceous perennial aquatic vine with long hollow stems that float on the water surface. Found in flooded lowland areas and swamps, roadside ditches and stagnant streams, and lakes. Can cover entire surfaces of bodies of water creating navigational and recreational problems. The state of Florida, prohibits the importation and transportation and cultivation of this species. Benifit: Leaves and stems are eatten by wild hogs and deer, and rodents.
Water-Shield (Brasenia schreberi)
Known as the dollar bonnet. It is found in acid ponds and lakes, shallow water areas. Occasionally dense masses impair boat travel. Benifit: Wildlife eat the seeds and leaves, and underwater plant.
Fragrant Waterlily (Nymphaea odorata) & (Castalia odorata)
Found in ponds and lakes, streams and along edges of riverbanks. Mass growth can cause problems of stream flow and impede boat traffic. Benifit: Important waterfowl food source, leaves and stems eaten by deer and wood ducks and rodents.
Bog Moss (Mayaca fluviatilis)
Can be emersed or submersed aquatic plant. Found in wet peat and fresh water areas, such as streams and ponds, lakes and canals. No real value to wildlife.
Illinosis Pond Weed (Potamogeton illinoensis)
Submersed aquatic plant. Found in streams and rivers, ponds and lakes, and canals. Mass growth can cause water flow problems and impede boat traffic. Benifit: Important water fowl food source.
Hydrilla (Florida elodea)
Found in rivers and streams, ponds and canals. Mass growth is common due to abilities of the plant to grow in deeper and darker waters than most native vegetation. Greatly interfers with fisheries and water flow and boat traffic. Benifit: Eaten by diving ducks and coots, which consume tubers and vegetative parts.
Water Hyacintn (Eichhornia Crassipes solms)
Found all over the wetlands. Causes severe enviromental and economic problems, due to their thick masses of production that crowd out desirable plants. Only Benifit: Provide nesting habitat.
