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Spotted Pondweed

Potamogeton pulcher

Spotted Pondweed Locations in North America
Spotted Pondweed Locations in Southeast US
Spotted Pondweed

USDA, NRCS. 2018. The PLANTS Database (http://plants.usda.gov, 28 March 2018). National Plant Data Team, Greensboro, NC 27401-4901 USA.
Illustration: USDA-NRCS PLANTS Database / Britton, N.L., and A. Brown. 1913. An illustrated flora of the northern United States, Canada and the British Possessions. 3 vols. Charles Scribner’s Sons, New York. Vol. 1: 76.

What is Spotted Pondweed?

Physical Characteristics

Leaves:

  • Partially covered in spots

Submersed Leaves:

  • Alternate
  • Thin
  • Sword shaped
  • Wavy edges
  • Dark green in color

Floating Leaves:

  • Light to dark green
  • Oval-shaped
  • Leaf stalks black or purple

Flowers:

  • Above water
  • Densely clustered spikes
  • Many small flowers
  • 4 small petals
  • Green in color

Fruit:

  • Olive, dark green or brown in color
  • Round or oval-shaped
  • 3 ridges on surface

Stem:

  • Covered in spots

Where Does it Grow?

Spotted pondweed can be found in shady, muddy areas around ponds, lakes and marshes.

Pros and Cons of Spotted Pondweed

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.

How to Manage This Plant
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Photo Credits: The majority of the aquatic plant line drawings are the copyright of the University of Florida Center for Aquatic Plants (Gainsville). They are used with permission.

Aquatic plant photographs were provided by David Bayne, Jim Davis, Kelly Duffie, Billy Higginbotham, Michael Masser, John Clayton, Chetta Owens, Diane Smith, Joe Snow, Don Steinbach, Bridget Robinson Lassiter and Peter Woods.

You may use these photos, so long as you give credit to AquaPlant.

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