|
|
Plant
Identification
Illinois Pondweed
 Description Management
Options Other
Photos
Potamogeton
illinoensis
Illinois pondweed is a perennial plant that has mostly submerged leaves, sometimes with a few floating leaves in an alternate pattern. The submerged leaves are blade-like 1 to over 7 inches long and 1/2 to 2 1/2 inches wide. The petiole is short on submerged leaves and less that the leaf in length. Floating leaves are often not present. Floating leaves are blade-like to elliptical 1 to 6 inches long and 3 to 2 inches wide. Fruits are greenish 1/2 to 3 inches long and 1/8 to1/4 inches wide, located on the tip of stems and usually stick above the water surface.
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. Illinois pondweed is utilized
as food by ducks and some other types of wildlife.
Back
to Top
Submerged
Plant Index
Back
to Top
|
" indicates Non-Native plants.