Your Complete Guide to Identifying Aquatic Weed Types
Water bodies such as lakes, ponds and streams are a breeding ground for an array of pond weed types which look similar.
Many of such aquatic plants are difficult to identify.
For management purposes, they are generally divided into four groups namely - 1.
Algae 2.
Floating Plants 3.
Submerged Plants 4.
Emergent Plants It is not necessary for you to accurately predict the different species of pond plants as such identification comes with considerable training and practice.
However, it is better that you recognize the type of your pond plant species which will enable you to pick up the best management strategy to address aquatic weed control.
Such invasive pond plant species have been broadly categorized on the basis of their - > Leaf size > Whether they are standing up out of the water.
> Whether they are in the muck or sediment.
> Whether the leaves and roots of plants occur in the water column 1.
ALGAE: They are the primitive and most common type of aquatic plants.
They can be categorized into three common types - > Planktonic Algae: They are very minute and microscopic algae > Filamentous Algae: They are very thin and hair-like algae > Chara Algae: They are large and have a resemblance with higher plants but do not constitute roots.
When they cover a large area in water, they make the water appear translucent green, brown or even red color.
When they grow densely, they create a menace.
Therefore, it is imperative that you take steps for algae control in ponds.
2.
FLOATING PLANTS: As the name suggests, you will see them floating on the surface of the water and their roots suspended in the water.
They are free to float anywhere on the surface of the water body.
Floating plants come in a variety of forms from tiny diverse group of duckweed to over a foot in diameter like that of water hyacinth.
The leaves of these plants remain firm and flat which enables them to absorb more sunlight.
3.
SUBMERGED PLANT: The name itself suggests that submerged plants are rooted under the water surface with the vast majority if not all foliage staying under the water surface as well.
They have soft stems which makes it difficult for the plants to rise above the water surface.
They are thin and flexible which helps in nutrient absorption at a rapid rate.
Eurasian milfoil and curly leaf pondweed are two of the most invasive aquatic weeds and as soon as you find them, apply aquatic weed killer to get rid of them.
4.
EMERGENT PLANTS: They are also popularly known as emersed plants as they are rooted to the ground of the water surface but when fully grown, half or more of their vegetation is above water.
In comparison to submerged plants, their stems are more rigid and they need constant exposure to sunlight.
Some of the common species of this particular category are cattails, water lily, phragmites, watershield, bulrush etc.
Many of such aquatic plants are difficult to identify.
For management purposes, they are generally divided into four groups namely - 1.
Algae 2.
Floating Plants 3.
Submerged Plants 4.
Emergent Plants It is not necessary for you to accurately predict the different species of pond plants as such identification comes with considerable training and practice.
However, it is better that you recognize the type of your pond plant species which will enable you to pick up the best management strategy to address aquatic weed control.
Such invasive pond plant species have been broadly categorized on the basis of their - > Leaf size > Whether they are standing up out of the water.
> Whether they are in the muck or sediment.
> Whether the leaves and roots of plants occur in the water column 1.
ALGAE: They are the primitive and most common type of aquatic plants.
They can be categorized into three common types - > Planktonic Algae: They are very minute and microscopic algae > Filamentous Algae: They are very thin and hair-like algae > Chara Algae: They are large and have a resemblance with higher plants but do not constitute roots.
When they cover a large area in water, they make the water appear translucent green, brown or even red color.
When they grow densely, they create a menace.
Therefore, it is imperative that you take steps for algae control in ponds.
2.
FLOATING PLANTS: As the name suggests, you will see them floating on the surface of the water and their roots suspended in the water.
They are free to float anywhere on the surface of the water body.
Floating plants come in a variety of forms from tiny diverse group of duckweed to over a foot in diameter like that of water hyacinth.
The leaves of these plants remain firm and flat which enables them to absorb more sunlight.
3.
SUBMERGED PLANT: The name itself suggests that submerged plants are rooted under the water surface with the vast majority if not all foliage staying under the water surface as well.
They have soft stems which makes it difficult for the plants to rise above the water surface.
They are thin and flexible which helps in nutrient absorption at a rapid rate.
Eurasian milfoil and curly leaf pondweed are two of the most invasive aquatic weeds and as soon as you find them, apply aquatic weed killer to get rid of them.
4.
EMERGENT PLANTS: They are also popularly known as emersed plants as they are rooted to the ground of the water surface but when fully grown, half or more of their vegetation is above water.
In comparison to submerged plants, their stems are more rigid and they need constant exposure to sunlight.
Some of the common species of this particular category are cattails, water lily, phragmites, watershield, bulrush etc.
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