Common Native and Exotic Aquatic Plants
in Lakes and Ponds of Pennsylvania

Common Native Aquatic Plants
The following plants have been found to be the most common native aquatics in Pennsylvania's lotic ecosystems by the Pennsylvania Flora project (www.paflora.org/Aquatic.html).  Many of the photographs were taken at a workshop (9/24/04) held by the Delaware River Invasive Plant Project (DRIPP) and The Nature Conservancy, Long Pond Office.  Illustrations come from the Plants Database (plants.usda.gov) and originally came from Britton, N.L., and A. Brown, 1913. Illustrated flora of the northern states and Canada. Vol. 2: 612, Courtesy of the Kentucky Native Plant Society.   Collections and identifications made by Tim Block of the Morris Arboretum, University of Pennsylvania are denoted by (*).   Collectons and identifications made by Jeri Jewett-Smith of ESU are denoted by (#). Click on the thumbnail for higher resolution photographs and/or illustrations.  More pictures will be added in the future.
Brasenia schreberi, water shield*
 B. schreberi sample taken at DRIPP workshop
 Brasenia schreberi drawing from Britton and Brown, 1913
Decodon verticillata, water willow*
 D. verticillata photograph from DRIPP workshop
 Close-up of maturing fruits of water willow
Dulichium arundinaceum, three-way sedge
 Dulichium arundinaceum from Britton and Brown, 1913.
Eleocharis palustris, spike rush
 Eleocharis palustris line drawing from Britton and Brown, 1913.
Elodea nuttallii, elodea or waterweed
 Elodea nuttallii line drawing from Britton and Brown, 1913.
Najas flexilis, water nymph*
 Britten and Brown (1913) illustration of Najas flexilis
 Najas from Peck's Pond
Nuphar variegata, yellow water lilly*
 leaf, flower and rhizome of N. variegata
 Nuphar variegata fruit from Crescent Lake, PA
Nymphaea odorata, fragrant white lilly*
 Nymphaea odorata root, rhizome and leaf
 Line drawing of Nymphaea odorata from Britton and Brown, 1913.
Pontederia cordata, pickerelweed
 Pontederia cordata drawing from Britton and Brown
Potamogeton epihydrus #
 Potamogeton epihydrus from Crescent Lake, PA
 Potamogeton epiphydris close-up of flower spike
Sagittaria latifolia, arrowhead
 Sagittaria latifolia line drawing from Briton & Brown, 1913.
Sparganium americanum, burreed*
 Sparganium americanum
Utricularia macrorhiza, bladderwort
 Line drawing of Utricularia macrorhiza from Britton and Brown, 1913

Link to: Common Exotic Aquatic Plants

Last updated: August, 2004, JJS