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Water Shield (Dollar Bonnet)

Brasenia schreberi

Water Shield Locations in North America
Water Shield Locations in Southeast US
water shield being lifted slightly

water shield drawing
harvested water shield

water shield covering water
Close up Water Shield

large view of water shield in pond

USDA, NRCS. 2018. The PLANTS Database (http://plants.usda.gov, 28 March 2018). National Plant Data Team, Greensboro, NC 27401-4901 USA.
Illustration courtesy of University of Florida/IFAS Center for Aquatic and Invasive Plants. Used with permission.

What is Water Shield (Dollar Bonnet)?

Physical Characteristics

Leaves:

  • Alternate
  • Leaf stalks long
  • Shield- or oval- shaped
  • Floating
  • Smooth on top
  • Jello-like on bottom
  • Up to 4 inches long

Flowers:

  • Grow from the axil
  • Small
  • Dull-purple in color
  • 3-4 petals and sepals each
  • 0.39-0.59 inches long
  • Anthers release pollen toward the inside of the flower

Fruit:

  • Club-shaped
  • Leather texture
  • Does not split to release seeds when ripe
  • 0.23-0.31 inches long

Stem:

  • Slender

Roots:

  • Slender
  • Rooted in mud

Where Does it Grow?

Water shield can be found in lakes, ponds and quiet streams.

Pros and Cons of Water Shield

Water shield seeds are consumed by ducks and other waterfowl; while the roots and stems are consumed by muskrats and nutria. 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.

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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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