Water Weed ID: Submerged Plants, Part 3

We’re discussing a number of pondweed varieties in the third installment of our “Water Weed ID” series about submerged plants. Here we go!

Sago Pondweed (Potamogeton Pectinatus)
Leaves on the sago plant are stiff, narrow and thread-like. Stems branched with leaves alternately arranged on the stem. Spreading leaves resemble a fan with an overall bushy appearance. Nutlets appear like beads on a string, and a tiny green flower appears on a spike along with nutlets above the water surface when mature.

Source: www.ewu.edu

Large-Leaf Pondweed (Potamogeton Amplifolius)
Leaves are both floating and submersed. Submersed leaves are large, oblong, wavy and taper to the stem while floating leaves are oval-shaped. Parallel leaf veins are evident, and stems are seldom branched. Leaves are alternately arranged on the stem. Solid, tightly packed spike of nutlets at the tip of the weed rises above the water surface when mature.

Floating-Leaf Pondweed (Potamogeton Natans)
Floating-leaf pondweed has both floating and submersed leaves. Submersed leaves are long and narrow while floating leaves are oblong and slightly heart-shaped at base. Parallel leaf veins are evident, and stems are occasionally branched. Leaves are alternately arranged on the stem. Solid, tightly packed spike of nutlets at the tip of the weed rises above water surface when mature.

Source: www.botany.hawaii.edu

Curly-Leaf Pondweed (Potamogeton Crispus)
Leaves are thin with wavy and finely serrated edges, and upper leaves are often crispy and appear waxy. Leaves are alternately arranged on branched stems. Flowers born on spikes rise above the water surface when mature.

Clasping-Leaf Pondweed (Potamogeton Richardsonii)
Leaves are wide and wavy with smooth edges while a broad leaf base clasps the stem. The upper stem commonly branched and leafy. Leaves are alternately arranged on the stem. Solid, tightly packed spike of nutlets at the tip of the weed rises above the water surface when mature.
 
Find out more about submerged weeds here and here.