Tenmile Lakes Watershed Aquatic Plants Produced by: Tenmile Lakes Basin Partnership
Table of Contents COMMON NAME Arrowhead Big Leaf Pondweed Bladderwort Brazilian Water Weed Bulrush (Hard Stem) Burreed Cattail Coontail Cow Lily Dollar Pads/ Watershield Knotweed Large Duckweed Mexican Water-fern Parrotfeather Purple loosestrife Small Duckweed Spike Rush Starwort White Water Lily SCIENTIFIC NAME Sagitaria latifolia Potomogeton amplifolius Utricularia vulgaris Egeria densa Scirpus acutus Sparganium americanum Typha latifolia Ceratophyllum demersum Nuphar polysepala Brasenia schreberi Polygonum punctatum Spirodela polyrriza Azolla mexicana Myriophyllum aquaticum Lythrum salicaria Lemna minor Eleocharis parvula Callitriche stagnalis Nymphaea odorata
Tenmile Lakes Aquatic Plant Species SCIENTIFIC NAME COMMON NAME CODE NATIVE NON-NATIVE Nuphar polysepalum Cow Lily CW x Nymphaea odorata White Water Lily WL x Brasenia schreberi Dollar Pads/ Watershield DP x Lemna minor Small Duckweed DW x Scirpus acutus Bulrush (Hard Stem) BR x Myriophyllum aquaticum Parrotfeather PF x Egria densa Brazilian Water Weed ED x Ceratophyllum demersum Coontail CT x Potomogeton amplifolius Big Leaf Pondweed BP x Typha latifolia Cattail CL x Eleocharis parvula Spike Rush SR x Polygonum punctatum Knotweed KW x Sparganium americanum Burreed BD x Utricularia vulgaris Bladderwort BW x Callitriche stagnalis Starwort WS x Sagitaria latifolia Arrowhead AH x Azolla mexicana Mexican Water-fern MW x Lythrum salicaria Purple loosestrife PL x Spirodela polyrriza Large Duckweed LD x
Introduction OVERVIEW Freshwater plants are found through out the Tenmile Lakes. Aquatic Plants range in size from tiny floating plants to plants that grow to heights of 8 feet or more. Aquatic plants are an important part of the lakes environment. Aquatic Plants help provide food and shelter for a large variety of birds, fish, animals and insects. They also provide an important link in the nutrient cycles and also help stabilize shorelines. Purpose The purpose of this book is to assist Lake users and property owners identify plant species of the Tenmile Lakes. The plants described in this booklet can be found in the streams, marshes, drainage ditches and around the shoreline of both North and South Tenmile Lake. Plant Categories The plants in this book are divided into four categories according to the habitat and how they grow. Each species description states where the plants grow and if they are native or not. Shoreline Plants Shoreline Plants grow along the shoreline of the lakes depending on water depth. Submersed These plants usually grow entirely under water with only the flowers or fruits rising above the surface. Rooted Floating These plants are rooted to the bottom with the leaves, flowers and fruit rising above the surface. Free Floating Free- floating plants don t root to the bottom but float on the Lakes surface. These plants are usually the smallest and can create Dense Mats. On some species you can see the root structure.
Arrowhead Sagittaria latifolia Field Characters: Arrowhead or Wapato have arrow shaped leaves and Whorled shaped flowers. Native Americans used the tubers of this plant as a food source and were even mentioned in Lewis and Clarks journals while in Oregon. Habitats: It generally grows along undisturbed shorelines in the Tenmile Lakes. Native
Bladderwort Utricularia vulgaris Field Characters: This plant is Carnivorous with tiny delicate leaves and Snapdragon like Flowers. The bladders along the leaves trap small animals (invertebrates) and even tiny Fish. Habitats: It generally grows along undisturbed shorelines in the Tenmile Lakes. Non-Native
Bulrush Scirpus acutus Field Characters: A member of the Sedge family. Growing up to 2.5 meters in height, Bulrush has slender stems with multiple spike lets at the top. Habitats: It generally grows along undisturbed shorelines and in depths of water up to 1 meter in the Tenmile Lakes. Native
Bur-reed Sparganium americanum Field Characters: Growing up to 2 5 in height, Bur-reed has large spherical bur-like flower clusters. Habitats: Bur-reed generally grows along undisturbed shorelines. Native
Cattail Typha latifolia Field Characters: A member of the Typha family. Cattails can grow to a height of 8 and have long slender leaves. Native Americans used the leaves for many uses including bedding and for canoes. Habitats: It generally grows in marshes and along undisturbed shorelines in the Tenmile Lakes. Native
Coontail Ceratophyllum demersum Field Characters: Because its feathery leaves are arranged in whorls on the stem, this plant resembles a raccoon's tail. Habitats: It generally grows in depths from 8-20'. Non-Native
Dollar Pads Brasenia schreberi Field Characters: Dollar Pads or Water shield have oval shaped leaves and has a clear jelly-like coating that covers underneath the leaf and stem. The roots are creeping rhizomes. It has a flower that is on a separate stalk and is purplish in color. Each flower produces up to 18 fruits that when ripen sink to the bottom and release their seeds. Native Americans used this plant for food and medicinal purposes. Habitat: This plant Grows to a depth of about 10. Native.
Brazilian Waterweed Egeria densa Field Characters: Brazilian Waterweed or more commonly known as (Seaweed) has 3 to 6 leaves per whorl. Brazilian Waterweed flowers have 3 white petals and are about 3/4" across. It is the dominant species around the Tenmile Lake basin. Habitats: Brazilian Waterweed is found from shoreline to depths up to 15'. Non-Native (Invasive)
Knotweed Polygonum punctatum Field Characters: Knotweed is a sprawling perennial with willow like leaves and clusters of pinkish Flowers, Habitats: It generally grows along undisturbed shorelines or any wet open areas in the Tenmile Lakes. Non-Native
Large Duckweed Spirodela polyrriza Field Characters: Individual plants are minute, and a single leaf is 2-4mm in diameter. Habitats: Duckweed prefers swallow and slow-flowing water. It is usually found in ditches and small creeks. The presence of this plant usually indicates a healthy aquatic environment. Native
Mexican water-fern Azolla mexicana Field Characters: A member of the Azollaceae family this free-floating moss like plant often creates large mats. Generally bright green when young this fern like plant turns reddish when mature. Habitats: It generally grows along undisturbed shorelines in the Tenmile Lakes. Native
Parrotfeather Myriophyllum aquaticum Field Characters: Parrotfeather is part of the milfoil family. The leaves are oblong, deeply cut and feathery looking. The leaf color is a bright blue-green. Habitats: Parrotfeather is generally found along shallow shorelines from the waters edge to about 3 feet in depth. (Non-Native) Invasive
White-Stemmed Pondweed Potamogeton praelongus Field Characters: White-stemmed or Big leaf Pondweed is a submersed plant with shiny elongated leaves. Some times these leaves appear whorled or twisted. Habitat: Pondweed usually grows in shallow bays in the Tenmile lakes. Non-Native
Purple Loosestrife Lythrum salicaria Field Characters: Growing to heights of six feet with brilliant purple flowers and square stem, this plant has been known as the purple plague because it displaces native wetland species. Habitats: It generally grows along undisturbed shorelines in the Tenmile Lakes. Non-Native (Invasive)
Small duckweed Lemna minor Field Characters: Individual plants are minute, and a single leaf is 2-4mm in diameter. Habitats: Duckweed prefers swallow and slow-flowing water. It is usually found in ditches and small creeks. The presence of this plant usually indicates a healthy aquatic environment. Native
Spatterdock Nuphar polysepala Field Characters: Spatterdock is a water lily type plant that can fan out into large extensive stands. When mature the plant blooms a large globular yellow flower. Habitat: Spatterdock generally grows in shallow water to a depth of 10. Native
Spike Rush Eleocharis parvula Field Characters: A member of the Sedge family. Spike Rush has a single spike let on top and grows up to a foot tall. Habitats: It generally grows along undisturbed shorelines and grows in small clusters. Native
Starwort Callitriche stagnalis Field Characters: Individual plants are minute, and a single leaf is 2-4mm in diameter. Habitats: Starwort prefers swallow and slow-flowing water. It is usually found in ditches and small creeks. The presence of this plant usually indicates a healthy aquatic environment Non-Native
Water Lily Nymphaea odorata Field Characters: Water Lily is one of the most familiar wetland plants. The flowers of the plant are large and showy. Introduced totenmile Lakes in the 1930 s. Habitats: Water Lily is found from shoreline to depths up to 10. Non-Native (Invasive)