Some Aquatic plants for backyard ponds

Some Aquatic plants for backyard ponds

by James K. Sayre

(note: some parts of this essay have not been completed at this time, but I thought that it would still prove useful to some in its present form).

Basically, aquatic plants that are found in and around fresh water ponds, lakes and slow-moving streams may be arbitrarily divided into several groups:

A. plants that grow completely submerged (under water surface) (fully aquatic):

(in the salty sea, these would be called seaweeds). Water garden fanciers sometimes call these plants "oxygenators," because they release oxygen into the water.

Alligator Weed - Alternanthera philoxeroides - family: Amaranthaceae (Amaranth Family).

[Etymology: alligator earlier alagarto, Spanish el lagarto, "the lizard" Latin lacerta + weed Middle Englishweed, weod, Old English weod, compare: Old Saxon wiod, Dutch wieden, to weed].

This is an aquatic perennial plant. Native to Brazil in South America. Naturalized in southeastern United States. Naturalized in California.Cultivated as an ornamental plant and used as an oxygenator in North America in outdoor ponds and water gardens. Best cultivated in USDA hardiness zones 9-11 in North America.

Other name: -

Autumn Starwort - Callitriche hermaphroditica (Callitriche autumnalis) - family: Callitrichaceae (Water-Starwort Family).

[Etymology: autumn Middle English autumpne, Old French autompne, Latin autumnus + star Middle English sterre, steorre, Old English steorra, compare: Old Frisian stera, Old Norse stjarna, Gothic stairno, Cornish sterenn + wort Middle English wort, Old English wyrt, herb, root, plant].

This is a slender perennial aquatic plant which forms submerged mats. It is typically found in ponds and quiet streams. It has small linear light green leaves. In the spring, summer and fall it produces minute yellow flowers. Following the flowers are tiny brownish fruits (seeds). Cultivated as an ornamental plant and used as an oxygenator in North America in outdoor ponds and water gardens. Native to northern Europe and northern North America. Native to California. Best cultivated in USDA hardiness zones 3-11 in North America.

Other name: Autumnal Starwort.

Bladderwort - Utricularia vulgaris - family: Lentibulariaceae (Bladderwort Family).

[Etymology: bladder Middle English bladre, Old English blæddre + wort Middle English wort, Old English wyrt, herb, root, plant, so named for the small bladders seen in its foliage].

This is a deciduous perennial floating aquatic plant. It is typically found growing in shallow standing water of ponds, lakes, marshes and streams. It has stems that grow to about three feet long and that around each surrounded by very fine foliage. Scattered through the foliage are tiny bladder-like inflated leaf structures which have the function of trapping microscopic aquatic insects; thus, this plant is classified as partly carnivorous. In the summer, it produces small Snapdragon-like blossoms of yellow, purple or white, which are held on stems slightly above the water's surface. Following the flowers are brown capsules which each hold many small brownish seeds. In the autumn it produces winter buds (turions), which fall to the bottom in the winter and in the spring float to the surface to create new plants. Native to Europe, Asia and eastern, central and western North America. Native to California. Cultivated as an ornamental plant and used as an oxygenator in North America in outdoor ponds and water gardens. Best cultivated in USDA hardiness zones 2-11 in North America. Propagated by seeds, plantlets and winter buds.

Other namse: Common Bladderwort, Greater Bladderwort.

Coontail - Ceratophyllum demersum - family: Ceratophyllaceae (Hornwort Family).

[Etymology: coon from raccoon, Virginia Algonquian arougheun + tail Middle English tail, Old English taegel, compare: Old High German zagel, so called because its stem tips resemble the tail of a Raccoon].

This is an aquatic plant that in found in ponds and quiet streams. It has dense whorls of fine thin dark green leaves that radiate out from delicate stems that grow up to about eight feet long. It usually floats just beneath the water's surface, but may root in soil at the bottom of a pond. In the spring, summer and fall, it produces tiny flowers which are followed by small spiny fruits (achenes) that each contain one seed. In the autumn, stem tips break off and float to the bottom and act as winter buds, and sprout new plants in the spring. Cultivated as an ornamental plant and used as an oxygenator in North America in outdoor ponds and water gardens. Ducks and Muskrats use the stems as food. Native to North America, Europe and Asia. Native to California. Best cultivated in USDA hardiness zones 5-11 in North America. Propagate by stem cuttings.

Other name: Hornwort.

Eel Grass - Vallisneria spiralis - family: _______ (_______ Family).

[Etymology: eel + grass Middle English gras, gres, gers, Old English græs, compare: Old Frisian gres, gers, German gras, so named for its flat narrow leaves ].

This perennial submerged aquatic plant has flat narrow leaves that may grow to about six feet in length. It produces small greenish flowers which are followed yb small seeds. Native to the Mediterranean area. Cultivated as an ornamental plant and used as an oxygenator in North America in outdoor ponds and water gardens. Best cultivated in USDA hardiness zones 4-11 in North America. Propagation by division of runners.

Other name: Tape Grass.

Fanwort - Cabomba caroliniana - family: Cabombaceae (Water Shield Family).

[Etymology: fan Middle English fanne, Old English fann, Latin vannus, basket for winnowing grain + wort Middle English wort, Old English wyrt, herb, root, plant, so-named for its fan-like spreading of its leaves].

This is a perennial rhizome-based submerged aquatic deciduous-to-evergreen plant that may grow to about six feet long. It has fine feathery dark green leaves that spread out in a fan-like manner from the main stem. Found naturally in ponds and slow-moving streams. In the spring, summer and fall it produces oval-shaped floating leaves and holds small white flowers above the surface. The flowers are followed by hard dry fruits which each hold from one to several small seeds. Cultivated as an ornamental plant and used as an oxygenator in North America in outdoor ponds and water gardens. Native to eastern and central North America. Best cultivated in USDA hardiness zones 5-11 in North America. Propagated by seeds and stem division and root division.

Other names: Cabomba, Carolina Water Shield, Fish-grass, Washington Plant, Water Shield.

Hair Grass - Eleocharis acicularis - family: Cyperaceae (Rush Family).

[Etymology: hair Middle English hare, here, haire, Old English hær + grass Middle English gras, gres, gers, Old English græs, compare: Old Frisian gres, gers, German gras, so named for its very thin leaves].

This is a rhizome-based mat-forming perennial aquatic plant. It grows in wet areas, on pond and stream shorelines and marsh edges. It has narrow leaves on stems (culms) that grow to about eight inches long. In the summer and fall its leaves are topped with spikelets (flowers) which are followed by small ribbed yellowish-brown nutlets (seeds). Native to North America, Europe and Asia. Cultivated as an ornamental plant and used as an oxygenator in North America in outdoor ponds and water gardens. Reproduces by nutlets and division. Best cultivated in USDA hardiness zones 6-11 in North America.

Other name: Spikerush.

Pondweed - Elodea densa (Egeria densa) (Anacharis densa) - family: Hydrocharitaceae (Frogs-bit Family).

[Etymology: pond Middle English ponde, pounde, enclosure, an artificially enclosed body of water, Old English pund-, pounde, enclosure, pound + weed Middle Englishweed, weod, Old English weod, compare: Old Saxon wiod, Dutch wieden, to weed, canada + -ian ].

This is a small aquatic plant that grows in long stalks that may reach several feet in length. Its leaves are strung along the stalk. It produces small white three-petaled flowers that are held just above the surface of the water. Small seeds follow the flowers. Native to North America. Cultivated as an ornamental plant and used as an oxygenator in North America in outdoor ponds and water gardens. Best cultivated in USDA hardiness zones 5-11 in North America. Propagated from seeds and stem cuttings.

Other name: Anacharis.

Pondweed, Canadian - Elodea canadensis (Anacharis canadensis) - family: Hydrocharitaceae (Frogs-bit Family).

This is a small aquatic plant that grows in short stalks, with leaves strung along the stalk. Native to North America. Cultivated as an ornamental plant and used as an oxygenator in North America in outdoor ponds and water gardens. Best cultivated in USDA hardiness zones 3-9 in North America.

Other names: Babington's Curse, Canadian Waterweed, Common Elodea, Ditch Moss, North American Water Thyme,

Pondweed, Curled - Potamogeton crispus - family: Potamogetonaceae (Pondweed Family).

This is a deciduous rhizome-based perennial aquatic plant. It is typically found in lakes, ponds and slow streams. It has bronze-to-brownish curled linear-to-oblong-shaped leaves that grow from stems that may be up to twelve feet long. In the spring, summer and fall it produces low spikes of small reddish-to-whitish flowers which are held just above the water line. The flowers are followed by small achenes (seeds). It also produces winter buds, which grow into new plants the next spring. Native to Europe, Asia, Australia and eastern North America. Naturalized in central North America. Naturalized in California. Cultivated as an ornamental plant and used as an oxygenator in North America in outdoor ponds and water gardens. Best cultivated in USDA hardiness zones 7-11 in North America. Propagated by seeds and stem cuttings.

Other names: Curly Muckweed, Pondweed.

Water Buttercup - Ranunculus longirostris - family: Ranunculaceae (Crowfoot Family).

This is a submerged perennial aquatic plant with stems that grow to about four feet long. It is typically found growing in the shallow water of marshes, ponds and streams. It has fine feathery leaves that radiate away from the central stem. In the spring, summer and fall it produces large open white flowers that float on the water's surface. The flowers are followed by small seeds (achenes). Native to central North America. Cultivated as an ornamental plant and used as an oxygenator in North America in outdoor ponds and water gardens. Best cultivated in USDA hardiness zones 4-11 in North America.

Other name: White Water Crowfoot.

Water Hyssop - Bacopa caroliniana (Bacopa amplexicaulis) (Herpestis amplexicaulis) - family: Scrophulariaceae (Figwort Family).

This is a deciduous submerged aquatic plant that has egg-shaped fleshy pale green leaves. In the spring, summer and fall it produces small tubular blue-to-violet flowers that are held above the surface of the water to be pollinated. Following the flowers are capsules which each hold many small seeds. Native to southeastern United States in North America. Cultivated as an ornamental plant and used as an oxygenator in North America in outdoor ponds and water gardens. Best cultivated in USDA hardiness zones 8-10 in North America. Propagated by seeds and stem cuttings.

Other name: Blue Hyssop.

Willow Moss - Fontinalis antipyretica - family: Sphagnaceae (______ Family).

[Etymology: willow Middle English wilowe, wilwe, Old English welig, compare: Dutch wilg + moss Middle English moss, mos, a bog, moss Old English moss, a swamp].

This is a submerged evergreen aquatic plant which generally floats just beneath the surface. It has branching stems to grow to about two feet long, which are covered with tiny scale-like dark olive-green leaves. Traditional European folk use of dried stems as a fireproof insulating material around fireplaces and chimneys. Native to North America, Europe, Asia and North Africa. Cultivated as an ornamental plant and used as an oxygenator in North America in outdoor ponds and water gardens. Best cultivated in USDA hardiness zones 3-11 in North America. Propagated by division.

Other name: -

Water Violet - Hottonia palustris - family: Primulaceae (Primrose Family).

B. plants that grow mostly under water, but put their flowers above the water's surface for pollination and seeding purposes.

C. plants that float on the water's surface or that have leaves that float on the water's surface.:

Cape Pond-weed - Aponogeten distachyos - family: Aponogetenaceae (Aponogeten Family).

[Etymology: cape Middle English cap, Old French cap, Old Provencal cap, Medieval Latin caput, headland, Latin caput, head + pond Middle English ponde, pounde, enclosure, an artificially enclosed body of water, Old English pund-, pounde, enclosure, pound + weed Middle Englishweed, weod, Old English weod, compare: Old Saxon wiod, Dutch wieden, to weed, so named because it comes from the Cape of Good Hope region of South Africa ].

This aquatic rhizome-based perennial plant has lance-to-oval-shaped floating leaves and in the summer and fall produces double spikes (racemes) of very fragrant white flowers. Native to the Cape of Good Hope region of South Africa. At least two cultivars exist. Best cultivated in USDA hardiness zones 9-10 in North America. Propagated by seeds and rhizome division.

Other name: Water Hawthorn.

Curly Water Thyme - Lagarsoiphon major (Elodea crispa) - family: Hydrocharitaceae (______ Family).

[Etymology: curl + -ly + water Middle English water, wæter, weter, Old English wæter, compare Old Saxon watar, Old Frisian wetir, weter, Frisian wetter, wiet, water, Low German water, Danish vand, Swedish vatten, Greek hydor, Sanskrit udan, water, Hittite watar, water + thyme ].

This is a submerged semi-evergreen perennial aquatic plant with stems that grow to about three feet long. It has linear-to-lance-shaped dark green leaves. In the summer it produces small pinkish-green tubular flowers which grow inside of spathes. The flowers are followed by small seeds. Native to South Africa. Cultivated as an ornamental plant and used as an oxygenator in North America in outdoor ponds and water gardens. Best cultivated in USDA hardiness zones 8-11 in North America.

[Etymology: curl + -y + water + thyme ].

Other name: African Elodea.

Duckweed - Lemna valdiviana - family: Lemnaceae (Duckweed Family).

[Etymology: duck Middle English doke, douke, duke, duk, Old English duce, a duck, a diver, literally, a ducker, compare: Dutch duiken + weed Middle Englishweed, weod, Old English weod, compare: Old Saxon wiod, Dutch wieden, to weed, so named because it is a favorite food of ducks].

This is a small floating perennial aquatic plant which typically grows in dense mats. Instead of leaves, it has flattened green stems. Along its stems, it has pouches which hold its minute flowers, which are followed by tiny seeds. Native to eastern, central and western North America. Native to California. Cultivated as an ornamental plant in North America for use in ponds and water gardens.

Other name: -

Duckweed, Lesser - Lemna minor - family: Lemnaceae (Duckweed Family).

This is a small floating perennial aquatic plant which typically grows in dense mats. Along its stems, it has pouches which hold its minute flowers, which are followed by tiny seeds. Native to central North America. Native to California. Cultivated as an ornamental plant in North America for use in ponds and water gardens. Best cultivated in USDA hardiness zones 2-11 in North America.

Other name: Common Duckweed.

Duckweed, Thick - Lemna gibba - family: Lemnaceae (Duckweed Family).

This is a small floating perennial aquatic plant which typically grows in dense mats. Along its stems, it has pouches which hold its minute flowers, which are followed by tiny seeds. Native to eastern, central and western North America. Native to California. Cultivated as an ornamental plant in North America for use in ponds and water gardens. Best cultivated in USDA hardiness zones 2-11 in North America.

Other names: Duckweed, Swollen Duckweed.

Duckweed, Great - Lemna polyrrhiza (Spirodela polyrrhiza) - family: Lemnaceae (Duckweed Family).

This is a small floating perennial aquatic plant which typically grows in dense mats. Along its stems, it has pouches which hold its minute flowers, which are followed by tiny seeds. Native to tropical America. Cultivated as an ornamental plant in North America for use in ponds and water gardens.

Other names: Big Duckweed, Large Duckweed.

Duckweed, Star - Lemna trisulca - family: Lemnaceae (Duckweed Family).

This is a small floating perennial aquatic plant which typically grows in dense mats. Along its stems, it has pouches which hold its minute flowers, which are followed by tiny seeds. Native to central and western North America. Native to California. Cultivated as an ornamental plant in North America for use in ponds and water gardens. Best cultivated in USDA hardiness zones 2-11 in North America.

Other names: Duckmeat, Ivy-leaved Duckweed.

Floating Fern - Ceratopteris cornuta - family: Parkeriaceae (Filices) ( _____ Family).

[Etymology: float Middle English flote, floten, Old English flota, flotian, that which floats, ship, fleet + -ing + fern Middle English fern, Old English fearn, compare: Dutch varen, German farn]. This annual floating aquatic plant will grow to about eight inches above the water surface. It has rosettes of feathery fronds. Its leaf stalks (stipes) have internal air pockets that help keep the plant afloat. On its margins, it produces new plantlets. Native to tropical waters of Asia, Africa and northern Australia. Naturalized in Florida. Cultivated as an ornamental plant in North America for use in ponds and water gardens.

Other name: Floating Staghorn Fern.

Floating Fern - Ceratopteris pteridoides - family: Parkeriaceae (Filices) ( _____ Family).

[Etymology: float Middle English flote, floten, Old English flota, flotian, that which floats, ship, fleet + -ing + fern Middle English fern, Old English fearn, compare: Dutch varen, German farn].

This floating aquatic plant will grow to about several inches above the water surface. It has rosettes of feathery fronds. Its leaf stalks (stipes) have internal air pockets that help keep the plant afloat. On its margins, it produces new plantlets.

Native to Florida and South America. Cultivated as an ornamental plant in North America for use in ponds and water gardens.

Other name: American Water Fern, Water Fern, Water Horn Fern..

Floating Fern - Ceratopteris thalictroides - family: Parkeriaceae (Filices) ( _____ Family).

[Etymology: float Middle English flote, floten, Old English flota, flotian, that which floats, ship, fleet + -ing + fern Middle English fern, Old English fearn, compare: Dutch varen, German farn]. This annual floating aquatic plant will grow to about eight inches above the water surface. It has rosettes of feathery fronds. Its leaf stalks (stipes) have internal air pockets that help keep the plant afloat. On its margins, it produces new plantlets. Traditional Asian folk use of leaves as a vegetable.

Native to tropical waters of Asia. Naturalized in Florida. Cultivated as an ornamental plant in North America for use in ponds and water gardens.

Other names: Oriental Water Fern, Water Fern, Water Horn Fern, Water Sprite.

Floating Heart - Nymphoides peltata (Limnanthemum nymphoides) (Villarsia nymphoides) - family: Menyanthaceae (Buckbean Family).

[Etymology: float Middle English flote, floten, Old English flota, flotian, that which floats, ship, fleet + -ing + heart Middle English herte, Old English herote, compare: German herz].

This is a perennial rhizome-based aquatic plant that has small rounded heart-shaped green leaves. It produces funnel-shaped bright yellow flowers in the summer and fall. Propagated by division of rootstock. Native to Europe, Asia and the Mediterranean area. Naturalized in New England and New York in eastern North America and California and the southwest in western North America. Cultivated as an ornamental plant in North America for use in ponds and water gardens. Best cultivated in USDA hardiness zones 6-11 in North America.

Other names: Poor Man's Water Lily, Water Fringe, Yellow Floating Heart, Yellow Fringe.

Frogbit - Hydrocharis morsus-ranae - family: Hydrocharitaceae (Frogsbit Family).

[Etymology: frog Middle English frogge, Old English frogga, compare: Old Norse froskr, German frosch + bit, past tense of bite, Middle English biten, Old English bitan, so-named because of old folk tale that frogs take bites out of its leaves while hunting their insect prey].

This floating perennial aquatic plant resembles a very small water lily. It has a basal rosette of glossy round-to-kidney-shaped leaves and produces small white bowl-shaped flowers. Small seeds follow the flowers. In the autumn, it produces terminal overwintering buds (turions) that detach and sink to the bottom. After wintering on the bottom of the pond these buds float to the surface in the spring and produce new plants. Also reproduces by offset plantlets that appear on outer stems. Native to Europe, northern Africa and western Asia. Cultivated as an ornamental plant in North America for use in ponds and water gardens. Best cultivated in USDA hardiness zones 6-11 in North America.

Other name: Frogsbit.

Water-chestnut - Trapa natans - family: Onagraceae (Evening Primrose Family).

This is a small annual aquatic plant that lives in still water. It has two types of leaves: the submerged lower linear leaves and a loose floating rosette of blue-green upper toothed diamond-shaped leaves. In the summer it produces small white flowers, which are followed by edible hard spiny black nuts (fruits). In nature, the seeds would fall to the bottom of the pond in the autumn and sprout in the springtime. If the seeds are collected for propagation, they must be kept moist until planted. Traditional Asian and European folk use of nuts as a cooked food. Note: the nuts are poisonous when raw, and must be cooked to render them edible. Native to Europe, Asia and Africa. Naturalized in New England in eastern North America. Cultivated as an ornamental in water gardens in North America. Best cultivated in USDA hardiness zones 2-11 in North America.

Other names: Jesuits-nut, Ling Kok, Water Caltrops.

Water Milfoil - Myriophyllum elatinoides - family: Haloragaceae (Water Milfoil Family).

This is a perennial aquatic plant that has stems that may reach four feet in length. It has rounded compound mid-green leaves. In the summer it produces tiny pink flowers, which are followed by small seeds. Native to subtropical and tropical regions of Asia, Australia and South America. Cultivated as an ornamental plant in North America for use in ponds and water gardens. Best cultivated in USDA hardiness zones 9-11 in North America. Typically propagated by vegetative reproduction.

Other name: -

Water Lettuce - Pistia stratiotes - family: Araceae (Arum Family).

[Etymology: water Middle English water, wæter, weter, Old English wæter, compare Old Saxon watar, Old Frisian wetir, weter, Frisian wetter, wiet, water, Low German water, Danish vand, Swedish vatten, Greek hydor, Sanskrit udan, water, Hittite watar, water + lettuce Middle English letuce, letuse, letus, Old French laituës, plural of laituë, Latin lactuca , lettuce from lac, milk (from its milky juice), so named for the shape of its floating leaves]. This an evergreen perennial floating aquatic plant. It is typically found in ponds, streams and canals. It may grow to about one foot above the water's surface and may spread out to the same degree. It has s central rosette of wedge-shaped velvety ribbed pale green leaves. Throughout the year it produces small whitish tubular flowers which are followed by small seeds. It also produces small lateral offset plantlets in the late summer and autumn. Native to southeastern United States in North America and subtropical and tropical regions around the world.

Cultivated as an ornamental plant in North America for use in ponds and water gardens. Best cultivated in USDA hardiness zones 9-11 in North America. Propagated by seeds and division. At least one cultivar exists.

Other name: Shell Flower.

Water Milfoil, Diamond - Myriophyllum aquaticum (Myriophyllum brasiliense) (Myriophyllum proserpinacoides) - family: Haloragaceae (Water Milfoil Family).

This is a perennial aquatic plant that has stems that may reach six feet in length. It has rounded compound yellow-greenish leaves. In the summer it produces tiny pink flowers, which are followed by small seeds. Native to subtropical and tropical regions of Asia, Australia, Mexico and South America. Native to southeastern North America. Naturalized in California. Cultivated as an ornamental plant in North America for use in ponds and water gardens. Best cultivated in USDA hardiness zones 9-11 in North America. Typically propagated by vegetative reproduction.

Other name: Parrot Feather, Parrots Feather, Water Feather, Water Milfoil.

Water Milfoil, Foxtail - Myriophyllum heterophyllum - family: Haloragaceae (Water Milfoil Family).

This is a rhizome-based perennial aquatic plant that has stems that may reach six feet in length. It has fluffy dark reddish-brown leaves. It is generally found growing in ponds and slow streams. In the spring and summer it produces tiny flowers, which are followed by small seeds. Native to eastern North America. Cultivated as an ornamental plant in North America for use in ponds and water gardens. Best cultivated in USDA hardiness zones 3-11 in North America. Typically propagated by vegetative reproduction.

Other name: Foxtail.

Water Milfoil, Myriad Leaf - Myriophyllum verticillatum - family: Haloragaceae (Water Milfoil Family).

This is a perennial aquatic plant that has stems that may reach three feet in length. It has rounded compound bright green leaves. In the summer it produces tiny yellowish flowers, which are followed by small seeds. Native to Europe, Asia and North America. Cultivated as an ornamental plant in North America for use in ponds and water gardens. Best cultivated in USDA hardiness zones 3-11 in North America. Typically propagated by vegetative reproduction.

Other name: -

Water Milfoil, Western - Myriophyllum hippuroides - family: Haloragaceae (Water Milfoil Family).

This is a perennial aquatic plant that has stems that may reach two feet in length. It has rounded compound yellowish-green leaves, with lance-to-linear-shaped leaflets. In the summer it produces tiny white flowers, which are followed by small seeds. Native to western North America. Cultivated as an ornamental plant in North America for use in ponds and water gardens. Best cultivated in USDA hardiness zones 7-11 in North America. Typically propagated by vegetative reproduction.

Other name: Red Water Milfoil.

Mosquito Fern - Azolla caroliana - family: Azollaceae (Mosquito Fern Family).

[Etymology: mosquito Spanish mosquito, diminutive of mosca, Latin musca, a fly + fern Middle English fern, Old English fearn, compare: Dutch varen, German farn].

This is a free-floating fan-shaped mat-forming annual plant. It has small lobed oval-shaped scale-like green leaves that often turn reddish in the autumn. Its roots hang down in the water. In the summer it produces small spores. It is found in ponds, marshes, ditches and other places with slow-moving water. Native to subtropical America and eastern North America. Reproduces by spores and rapidly by division. Cultivated as an ornamental in ponds and water gardens in North America.

Other names: Fairy Moss, Mosquito Plant, Water Fern.

Mosquito Fern - Azolla filiculoides - family: Azollaceae (Mosquito Fern Family).

[Etymology: mosquito Spanish mosquito, diminutive of mosca, Latin musca, a fly + fern Middle English fern, Old English fearn, compare: Dutch varen, German farn].

This is a free-floating fan-shaped mat-forming annual plant. It has small lobed oval-shaped scale-like green leaves that often turn reddish in the autumn. Its roots hang down in the water. In the summer it produces small spores. It is found in ponds, marshes, ditches and other places with slow-moving water. Native to subtropical America and western North America. Native to California. Reproduces by spores and rapidly by division. Cultivated as an ornamental in ponds and water gardens in North America. Best cultivated in USDA hardiness zones 7-11 in North America.

Other names: Fairy Moss, Mosquito Plant, Water Fern.

Mosquito Fern, Mexican - Azolla mexicana - family: Azollaceae (Mosquito Fern Family).

[Etymology: mosquito Spanish mosquito, diminutive of mosca, Latin musca, a fly + fern Middle English fern, Old English fearn, compare: Dutch varen, German farn, Mexico Spanish méjico, Nahuatl mexihco, meshi'ko, "at Mexico City" from meshi, place + -lo, a locative + -an].

This is a free-floating fan-shaped mat-forming annual plant. It has small lobed oval-shaped scale-like green leaves that often turn reddish in the autumn. Its roots hang down in the water. In the summer it produces small spores. It is found in ponds, marshes, ditches and other places with slow-moving water. Native to subtropical America, tropical America, central and western North America. Native to California. Reproduces by spores and rapidly by division.

Other names: Mosquito Fern, Mosquito Plant, Water Fern.

Water Hyacinth - Eichhornia crassipes (Eichhornia speciosa) - family:Pontederiaceae (Pickerel-Weed Family.

This is a perennial floating aquatic plant that is used as an ornamental in backyard ponds. It has fleshy bright green round leaves that grow in a basal rosette. It has air-filled leaf stalks (petioles) that act as natural "water-wings." In the spring and summer it produces low terminal spikes of funnel-shaped yellow-spotted lavender or white flowers. The flower spikes may grow to about eighteen inches above the water line. Following the flowers are capsules which each hold many small ribbed seeds. Native to subtropical and tropical South America. Naturalized in southeastern North America. Naturalized in warmer parts of California. At least one cultivar exists. Best cultivated in USDA hardiness zones 2-11 in North America. Not frost hardy. Reproduces by seed and vegetatively with offsets.

Other name: Floating Water Hyacinth.

Water Lily - many species cultivated.

Pondweed

D. plants, sometimes called "Bog" plants that grow in wet soil or with their roots partially under water.

Arrowhead - Sagittaria latifolia - family: Alismaceae (Water-plantain Family).

This is a deciduous perennial aquatic plant that grows to ab out four feet high. Its olive-green leaves are shaped like arrowheads and it produces spikes (racemes) of white flowers in the summer and early autumn. Small oblong-shaped seeds (achenes) follow its flowers. It also produces winter turions which produce new plants in the following spring. It is found growing in the shallow waters of ponds, creeks, rivers and lakes across North America. Its oblong whitish-to-bluish tubers furnished traditional food and medicine for Native Americans. The tubers were also used as a tonic by American pioneers. Tubers (corms) are a source of edible starch after being baked or boiled. A flour can be made from the tubers. It is closely related to Old World Arrowhead, Sagittaria sagittifolia. Native to eastern, central and western North America. Native to California. Cultivated as an ornamental plant in North America in outdoor ponds and water gardens. Best cultivated in USDA hardiness zones 4-11 in North America. Propagation by seeds, division, plantlets and winter turions.

Other names: Arrowleaf, Arrowlike, Broadleaf Arrowhead, Broadleaved Arrrowheaad, Bull Tongue, Chinese Onion, Duck Potato, Indian Onion, Katniss, Muskrat Potato, Swamp Potato, Swan Potato, Swanroot, Tule Potato, Wapato, Wappata, Water Nut, Water Archer, Water Lily, Waxflower.

Arrowhead, Old World - Sagittaria sagittifolia - family: Alismaceae (Water-Plantain Family).

[Etymology: arrow Middle English arewe, arwe, Old English earh, arwe, compare: Old Norse ör, örvar, Gothic arhwa, original meaning of arrow was "belonging to the bow" + head Middle English hed, hede, heved, heaved, Old English heafod, compare: Dutch hoofd, German haupt, Gothic haubith, Old Frisian haved, haft, haud, Old Norse höfuth, Old High German houbit, head, old Middle English old, ald, Old English (Anglian) ald, West Saxon eald, compare: Old Frisian ald, Old High German alt, old + world Middle English world, Old English werold, world, humanity, long time, compare: Old Frisian warld, Old High German weralt, named for the shape of its leaves].

This is a perennial aquatic plant that grows to about three feet high. Its leaves are shaped like arrowheads and it produces spikes (racemes) of white flowers in the summer and early autumn. Small oblong-shaped seeds (achenes) follow its flowers. It also produces winter turions which produce new plants in the following spring. It is found growing in the shallow waters of ponds, creeks, rivers and lakes across Europe and Asia. Its tubers furnished traditional food and medicine for Europeans and Asians. The small beige-colored tubers (corms) are a source of edible starch after being baked or boiled. A flour can be made from the tubers. It is closely related to Arrowhead, Sagittaria latifolia. Native to Europe and Asia. Cultivated as an ornamental plant in North America in outdoor ponds and water gardens. At least one cultivar exists. Propagation by seeds, division, plantlets and winter turions.

Other names: Arrowhead, Chinese Arrowhead.

Nut Sedges - several species cultivated. some uncultivated.

E. plants that normally live on dry land, but that can survive or even flourish with part of the plant in water:

White Clover -

Joint Weed -

Glossary:

culm - a narrow jointed stem, often hollow.

petiole - a short swollen leaf-supporting stalk or stem that acts as a float to help keep the plant from sinking below the water line.

stipe - the lower stalk that supports a fern's fronds.

turion - see winter buds.

winter buds (turions) - small bits of the stem which break off in the autumn, sink to the bottom in the winter and float to the surface to create new plants. Also called turnions.

References:

Bird, Richard, Water Gardens, 2000. London: Cassell & Co.

Graf, Alfred Byrd, Tropica: Color Cyclopedia of Exotic Plants and Trees, Third Edition, 1986, East Rutherford, New Jersey: Roehrs Company - Publishers.

Ledbetter, Gordon T., Water Gardens, 1979. New York: W. W. Norton & Co., Inc.

Leverett, Brian, Water Gardens: Step by Step to Growing Success, 1990. Ramsbury, Marlborough, Wiltshire, England: The Crowood Press Ltd.

Reid, George K., Pond Life: A Golden Nature Guide,1967. New York: Golden Press, Western Publishing Company, Inc.

Sayre, James Kedzie, North American Bird Folknames and Names, 1996, Foster City, California: Bottlebrush Press.

Slocum, Perry D.; Robinson, Peter; Water Gardening: Water Lilies and Lotuses, 1996. Portland, Oregon: Timber Press.

Swindells, Phillip; Mason, David, The Complete Book of the Water Garden, 1990. Woodstock, New York: The Overlook Press.