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Plant
Identification
Baby Pondweed
 Description Management
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Potamogeton
pedctinatus
Baby pondweed is a perennial
plant that arises from thickly matted rhizomes and has no floating
leaves. The stems are thin, long and highly branching with leaves very
thin and filament-like, about 1/16 of an inch wide and 2 to over 12
inches long tapering to a point. The leaves grow in thick layers and
originate from a sheath. The fruit is nut-like 1/8 to 1/4 inches long
and 1/10 to 1/8 inches wide.
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.
Baby pondweed is an excellent food for waterfowl which eat both the
fruits and the tubers.
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" indicates Non-Native plants.