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Plant
Identification
Southern Watergrass
 Description Management
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Hydrochloa
caroliniensis
Southern watergrass is a perennial
grass that forms dense colonies in shallow water. It's leaves can be
underwater (to 3 feet), floating, , or in dense colonies that can rise
to 12 inches in height on stems to 3 feet long. Leaves are long and
narrow (to 2 inches long).
Submerged portions of
all aquatic plants provide habitats for many micro and macro
invertebrates. These invertebrates in turn are used as food by
fish and other wildlife species (e.g. amphibians, reptiles, ducks,
etc.). After aquatic plants die, their decomposition by bacteria
and fungi provides food (called "detritus") for many aquatic invertebrates. Muskrats, nutria, and rabbits graze on watergrass.
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" indicates Non-Native plants.