Aquatic Weed Identification

This section is designed to help you identify aquatic weeds using photos, drawings, and descriptions. Aquatic weeds are generally divided into four groups for management purposes:

ALGAE - Cellular, lower plant form with no distinguishable stem or leaf. Commonly called scum or moss. Also includes chara, which looks like a submerged plant but is really a form of algae.

FLOATING - Growing unattached or rooted with floating leaves. Most have roots that hang in the water from the floating green portions.

EMERGENT - Growing in shallow water with leaves or stems above the water. The stems of emergent plants are usually somewhat stiff or firm.

SUBMERGED - Growing in deeper water below, or up to, the surface. One main characteristic of submerged plants is their soft stems.