Aquatic Plants

Front 1

Acer negundo - box elder

Back 1

medium tree 50-75’ high; twigs are green to purplish-bluish, glossy, powdery whitish “hairy”; leaves
opposite, compound w/ 3-5 leaflets with few or no coarse teeth (similar in appearance to poison ivy);
fruit a samara; moist soils, stream-banks, floodplain.

Front 2

Acer rubrum - red maple

Back 2

medium tree 20-60’ tall; leaves opposite, 3-5 lobed, toothed, base of terminal lobe wide; young bark
smooth and grey, older bark broken and darker; twigs and buds reddish; flowers red in spring; fruit a
samara; bright red fall color; lowland, poorly drained deciduous swamps, moist soil, bogs, floodplains,
river banks, can be associated with upland areas.

Front 3

Acer saccharinum - silver maple

Back 3

tall tree 40-60’ high; bark grey and peels off with age; leaves opposite, deeply 5-lobed, slightly
silver/whitish on lower surface; twigs and buds reddish; fruit a samara; moist soils, stream-banks,
floodplain.

Front 4

Alisma sp. - water plantain

Back 4

leaves not lobed with broad flat blades which may be rounded or tapered at base; nutlets in a ring; flowers
and fruit stems on a naked stem which is usually rigid and forming a massive panicle; may be mostly
submersed (the leaves), shores, ponds, shallow marshes.

Front 5

Sagittaria sp. - arrowhead, duck potato

Back 5

leaves variable from arrow-shaped to elliptical (ribbon-like) to lance-shaped, erect extending above
the surface, arising from the base which is normally submersed; inflorescence is a raceme or panicle of
whorled white flowers with three round-ish petals; fruit are in dense yellowish heads; ponds, shallow
marshes, shores.

Front 6

Toxicodendron radicans - poison ivy

Back 6

growth form variable: trailing or climbing vine, small shrub, ground cover; leaves alternate, trifoliate,
dull green, often w/ toothed leaflets, 4-14”; fruit a white ball-shaped cluster, Aug-Nov; moist woods,
location mostly variable.

Front 7

Toxicodendron vernix- poison sumac

Back 7

uptight shrub or small tree to 18’ high; leaves alternate, pinnately compound 6-12” long with 7-13
leaflets, thick & firm; twigs stout; flowers June; fruit a drupe, Sept.; swamps, bogs.

Front 8

Cicuta sp. – water hemlock

Back 8

Biennial or perennial toxic herb. Highly poisonous, handle with caution. Stems, leaves, and shoots
toxic if eaten. Tall erect stem (up to 2 meters) from tuberous rootstalk. Leaves alternate 2-3 pinnate.
Leaflets narrow or lanceolate. Flowers white or green in an umbel or many umbels. Fruit round or ovate
with prounonced ribs, June-September. Wet meadows, marshes, moist soils. Locations variable and highly
adaptive.

Front 9

Sium suave – water-parsnip

Back 9

Perennial herb up to two meters tall. Stems stout and glaborous, smooth, hollow, ribbed upward, slightly
zig-zagged in shape with cross partitions and thickened stem base. Leaves alternate and oddly pinnate
linear to lance shaped, lowest leaves up to 50 cm highly reduced anteriorly. Leaflets 5-10 cm long and 7-17
per leaf with fine, sharp, forward pointing teeth larger leaflets typically rounded at base. Finely dissected
underwater leaves. Inflorescence white in stalked terminally and axillary compound umbels, highly
characteristic for family. Oval fruit with prominent ribs. Wet areas, usually shallow.

Front 10

Ilex verticillata - Michigan holly

Back 10

plants are dioecious; leaves alternate, acuminate at tip with numerous fine teeth along margins; holly
with deciduous leaves; flowers with white petals in late June-early July; fruit a bright red drupe; bogs,
swamps, thickets, damp shores, swales, lake and stream margins.

Front 11

Acorus calamus - sweet flag

Back 11

leaves erect and sword-like; inflorescence a spadix (fleshy spike of flowers) long, yellowish-greenish,
coming from side of stem; plant fragrant when bruised; wet meadows, shallow marsh and swamps.

Front 12

Calla palustris – water arum

Back 12

Leaves broadly heart shaped, abruptly tapered at tip; inflorescence a short cylindrical spadix; spadix
shorter than spathe; spathe white, funnel shaped surrounding spadix. Shallow water, bog pools, wet
shorelines. Overwinters via rhizome.

Front 13

Peltandra virginica - arrow arum

Back 13

leaves lobed at base (typically sagitate), each basal lobe with a heavy central vein, 3-nerved,with a small
series of veins that run along the entire leaf margin on long petioles; spathe green, fleshy, inrolled;
herbs growing on muddy shores and shallow water.

Front 14

Symplocarpus foetidus - skunk cabbage

Back 14

perennial 1-3’; leaves broadly oval on short petiole, large, w/ foetid odor when crushed and appear
after the flowers; spathe is sheathing/shell-like, green to purple-brown mottled or striped and envelopes
the spadix which contain the stamens and pistils; plants are thermogenic (heat producing) in early spring;
swamps, marshes. muddy shores.

Front 15

Asarum canadense - wild ginger

Back 15

leaves basal, large, 6-12”, heart-shaped, soft to the touch, w/ hairy stalks; rhizomes aromatic w/ gingerlike
smell; flower located in the crotch between 2 leaf stalks at ground level, cup-shaped, w/ 3 pointed
red-brown calyx lobes; moist rich woods, stream-banks.

Front 16

Asclepias incarnata - swamp milkweed

Back 16

leaves opposite, narrow, lance-shaped to linear to oblong; smooth; flowers in several umbels, pink; milky
juice if broken stems or leaves (characteristic of family); long pointed seed pods; wet meadow and
coastal shoreline.

Front 17

Aster sp.

Back 17

leaves variable but usually lanceolate with a tapering point; flower heads with a yellow disk, rays are
blue, purple or white;

Front 18

Bidens sp. - begger-ticks

Back 18

flowers inconspicuous, lacking rays, bright yellow; leaves variable mostly toothed and lanceolate,
opposite; with distinctive barbed ‘tick’; extremely variable plant and difficult to get an exact
determination on species; shores, swamps, wet meadows.

Front 19

Cirsium sp. - thistle

Back 19

plant up to 1.5m tall; leaves spiny and lanceolate; flower heads clustered, mostly purple; swamps,wet
meadow.

Front 20

Eupatorium maculatum - joe-pye-weed

Back 20

stem deep purple or purple spotted, rough and coarse, up to 1m tall; leaves in whorls, on short petioles,
uppermost leaves shorter than the inflorescence, lance-shaped to linear; flower heads in disks, numerous
umbels, clustered, flat-topped, pink or purple; shallow marshes, shores, wet meadows, swales.

Front 21

Eupatorium perfoliatum - boneset

Back 21

leaves wrinkled and veiny, unite basally around the stem (perfoliate); hairy plant; white flower; low
ground and swamps

Front 22

Liatris spicata - blazing star

Back 22

perennial herbs from corms; leaves linear and grass-like on stem 1-5’ tall; flower heads sessile, discoid,
numerous, tubular, pink-red; flower bracts blunt and sticky; wet meadows, fen, marsh edges.

Front 23

Solidago sp. - goldenrod

Back 23

leaves are ribbon-like with a central vein; upper part of stem branched; inflorescence is flat-topped, flowers
yellow, in small numerous heads crowded in small clusters; wet meadow, shallow marshes, shores.

Front 24

Impatiens capensis - spotted touch-me-not, jewel weed

Back 24

stems very succulent, nearly translucent and wilt easily; leaves alternate, delicate; flowers with a long
spur, dangle on a long stalk. orange, spotted; with ‘explosive’ seed pods; moist shady soil, along streams
and shallow marsh edges.

Front 25

Alnus incana – speckled alder

Back 25

thicket forming shrub up to 15’ tall; leaves simple, dull above, whitened beneath, doubly toothed, with
blunt teeth; twigs and young leaves not sticky; male and females flowers separate on same plant, forming
catkins; cones stalked; female catkins single; male catkins long and flexible.

Front 26

Betula pumila - dwarf birch

Back 26

erect shrub up to 9’ high; bark smooth, reddish brown, lenticels prominent; leaves alternate, simple, 1-
5cm long, ovate to orbicular with serrated margins; flowers on separate pendulous catkins ; fruit a
samara; bogs, open swamps, fens.

Front 27

Myosotis sp. – forget-me-not

Back 27

blue flowers, tube-shaped and abruptly flared outward at tip; leaves alternate, entire, with short,
appressed hairs.

Front 28

Rorippa nasturtium-officinale – water-cress

Back 28

Perennial herb. Spreading stems either floating or submerged, smooth and anchor to the bottom at many
points. Leaves pinnately compound divided into 3-9 segments, with leaves 4-12 cm long by 2-5 cm wide
with a terminal lobe that is often larger than the rest. Leaf margins complete or with a few small teeth.
Petioles present. Flowers are approx. 5 mm wide, white, 4 petals cross-like (distinct for family), in one to
several recemes per stem. Fruit a curved to linear pod tipped with beak containing coarsely textured
seeds. May-September. Springs and slow-moving steams. Prefers water less than 65 degrees F.

Front 29

Brasenia schreberi – water-shield, snot weed

Back 29

Perennial aquatic herb, underwater component of plants have slippery jelly-like coating (snot-like) which
is more pronounced on young shoots, distinctive. Leaves ovular, floating, 4-12 cm long and as half wide
green above and purple below, peltate (petiole attaches centrally underside, shield-like). Stems up to 2
meters long and smooth. Flowers maroon to purple less than three cm wide, sepals 3 and petals 3, 12-15
mm long. Fruit small and oblong, 3-5 mm. July. Soft water lakes and ponds with high decomposed organic
matter, sometimes acidic.

Front 30

Campanula sp. – marsh-bellflower

Back 30

Perennial herb, 8-24 inches in height. Stems usually have milky sap, slender. Leaves simple, alternate
linear or narrow lance shaped tapered to sharp tip, underside leaf margin and midvein occasionally rough.
No petioles. Flowers perfect, 5-parted, and funnel shaped, sepals triangular to lance-shaped, 2-5 mm long
with 5-12 mm long pale blue to dirty white petals. Extend on long stalks from upper leaf axils, ornamental
plants flowers June to August. Fruit a many seeded capsule. Damp meadows and swamps.

Front 31

Lobelia cardinalis – cardinal flower

Back 31

Stems usually have milky sap, slender. Leaves simple, alternate lance shaped to oblong tapered to a point
margins toothed, upper leaves stalkless lower leaves on short petioles. Flowers irregular, receme
inflouresence at end of stem,2-4 cm long bright red with often yellow to white blotchy markings on hairy
stalks. Stems erect and unbranched. July-September. Damp meadows and swamps.

Front 32

Sambucus canadensis – common elder

Back 32

Shrubs or small trees to 3m tall which may from thickets. Stems pithy with protruding wart-like lenticels.
Leaves pinnate, large and opposite divided into 7 leaflets (can be 5-11). Leaflets lancelate or oval in shape
tapered to a sharp long tip, sharply forward serrated. Leaf base often assymetrical. Flowers small, white,
perfect, 5-lobed in large round clusters at edge of stem. Fruit a dark purple berry like drupe. July-August.
Most wet areas, forms thickets.

Front 33

Ceratophyllum sp. - coontail

Back 33

leaves whorled, dichotomously forked with spiny teeth along one side, more crowded toward the tip
giving the “coontail” appearance; plants free floating, submersed, without roots; variable in length; ponds,
shallow marshes.

Front 34

Hypericum sp. - St. John’s-wort

Back 34

leaves opposite with scattered translucent dots (except in submersed forms);
flowers mostly yellow (or purple), with 5 petals, 5 sepals, stamens 15 or more; fruit is a capsule; coastal
shoreline, wet meadow; terrestrial.

Front 35

Triadenum sp. – St. John’s wort

Back 35

Smooth perennial herb. Leaves opposite 3-6 cm long, entire and oval shaped, lacking serrations, dotted
with small dark and transparent glands. Stems 30-60 cm tall from rhizomes. Flowers pink to greenishpurple,
in clusters from leaf axils at the ends of stems, also 9 stamens in 3 triplicate groups, 5 petals and
sepals each with 3 styles. Fruit is a capsule with three compartments containing brown seeds. Late summer
to early autumn. Bogs and wet meadows.

Front 36

Cornus sp. - dogwood

Back 36

Shrubs or trees; leaves not toothed; leaf veins follow the smooth leaf edges toward the tips; silky sap
apparent between veins when leaves are gently broken; twigs often reddish or purple; leaf buds with
only 1 pair of scales.

Front 37

Echinocystis lobata – wild cucumber

Back 37

leaves with 3-7 sharp, triangular lobes; 3-8cm petiole; flowers white; distinctive fruit green, ovate, 3-
5cm long with soft prickles.

Front 38

Carex sp.

Back 38

Nutlet enclosed in a sac, the perigynium; stamens and pistils in separate flowers. Staminate and pistillate
flowers may be in separate spikes, in different parts of the same spike or scattered and scarcely
distinguishable in each spike.

Front 39

Cladium mariscoides - twig rush

Back 39

coarse plants 0.5-1m tall; stems leafy, topped by a branched inflorescence with a cluster of spikelets at each
branch; spikelets are reddish-brown, nutlet without a tubercle; 1 achene per spikelet; wet meadows,
shores, shallow marsh.

Front 40

Cyperus sp. - nut grass

Back 40

Spikelets flattened, the scales in 2 rows on opposite sides of the rachilla; rachilla often with thin wings
somewhat enclosing the nutlet or running to the scale next above; spikelets often in heads, with leafy bracts
at base.

Front 41

Dulichium sp. – three way sedge

Back 41

Erect grasslike perennial sedge often found in large colonies. Resembles a three spoked airplane propeller
when viewed from above. Stems stout, erect, hollow, and jointed. Leaves three ranked, flat and short,
reduced to bladeless sheaths on lower 1/3 to ½ of stem. Flower heads from leaf axils, brownish clusters of
spikelets in two vertical rows with three stamens and a two branched style with lance shaped scales. Fruit is
a beaked achene with barbed bristles at base. July-September. Marshes, pond margins and fens.

Front 42

Eleocharis sp.- spike rush

Back 42

leaves are without blades and represented by sheaths at the base of the stem; flowers are solitary terminal
spikelets, flower has subtending scale which hides it from view, arranged spirally on the axis of the
spikelet with overlapping scales, the style base of each ovary persists as a tubercle (a cap) on the mature
fruit; identification within the genus is impossible unless the fruit (nutlet) is mature because species
identification is based on the tubercle characteristics; shallow and deep marshes, ponds, stream-banks, wet
meadows, swales.

Front 43

Eriophorum sp. – cotton grass

Back 43

Grasslike perennials. Stems clumped or more commonly singled, round to 3 rounded. Leaves few and
generally at base of plant, folded or inrolled usually reduced to bladeless sheath. Flower heads at terminal
end of stems with one or many spikelets, spirally arranged with chaffy margins. Many scales. Flowers
perfect sepals and petals numerous, with long, cottony, white to tawny brown bristles. Stamens 3, styles
three parted. Fruit is an achene generally brown and three angled sometimes with a short beak. May-
August. Bogs, wet meadows, wet areas.

Front 44

Rhynchospora sp. – beak-rush

Back 44

Grasslike perennial. Leaves flat or inwardly rolled, reduced. Stems erect and leafy usually 3-angled but
occasionally round. Spikelets clustered in dense flat-top like heads, the heads open to crowded, scales
spirally arranged. Flowers perfect and bisexual, sepals and petals reduced to usually six bristles. Fruit is an
achene (lens shaped) with a tubercle with downward barbed bristles at base. Only one achene per
spikelet. May to September. Wet areas

Front 45

Scirpus acutus - hardstem bulrush

Back 45

single round stem with sheath at base, sometimes leafy and sometimes naked from 70cm-200cm in height,
dark olive green and firm in texture; inflorescence sub-terminal and spikelets several, with involucre
(bracts) from the base of spikelet; Similar to S. validus, stem thinner at the base, a wide range of water
depth habitat from open swales to shallow and deep marshes 85cm deep.

Front 46

Scirpus cyperinus - wool grass

Back 46

spikelets terminal, like a fountain spray of wool puff ball due to long bristles; involucels (bracts at
the flower base) dull brown with blackish bases; plant extending .5-1m in height; wet meadows, shores,
very shallow marshes, riverbanks.

Front 47

Scirpus fluviatilis - river bulrush

Back 47

stems sharply triangled; flowers terminal; 50-80cm tall; muddy shores, shallow water.

Front 48

Scirpus pungens - three-square bulrush

Back 48

stems with sheaths at base, up to a meter tall, erect, sharply 3-angled; involucre of a single leaf as if a
continuation of the stem (may be short); 1-6 stalkless spikelets; scales of spikelet red-brown; nutlet with
abrupt short point; shallow and deep marshes, shores.

Front 49

Scirpus validus - softstem bulrush

Back 49

single round stem with sheath at base, sometimes leafy and sometimes naked from 70cm-200cm in height,
inflorescence sub-terminal and spikelets several, with involucre (bracts) from the base of spikelet; a wide
range of water depth habitat from open swales to shallow and deep marshes. Similar to S. acutus, stem
thicker at the base (0.8-2.5cm), light green, soft and spongy.

Front 50

Drosera rotundifolia - round-leaved sundew

Back 50

small perennial; leaves small, round, in a rosette, each on a slender stalk covered with reddish
glandular hairs (or tentacles) that exude a sticky juice, like tiny dewdrops that trap insects; flowers
pink or white in a one-sided cluster, open one at a time; acid or peaty bogs.

Front 51

Onoclea sensibilis – sensitive fern

Back 51

Erect medium perennial fern. Leaves upright with petioles roughly same length as blades. Sterile leaves
deciduous and surrounding fertile leaves, once pinnately divided at base, opposite, deeply cleft upward
wavy margined or coarsely toothed, with a winged central axis. Fertile leaves contain spore clusters
produced in summer and overwinter, leaves divided in beadlike pinnules with inrolled margins covering
the sori. Sori round and covered by indusia. Swampy woods, wet shores, wet meadow margins

Front 52

Equisetum sp. - horestail, scouring rush

Back 52

stems erect, hollow and jointed; no true leaves, rough texture due to silica in the tissue; sometimes a
terminal spore-bearing cone present; shallow water, moist ground

Front 53

Andromeda glaucophylla – bog-rosemary

Back 53

twigs with lines of hairs running down stems, or sometimes smooth; leaf margins distinctly rolled under,
evergreen, leathery, often blue-green, tip pointed with a small spine; flowers in drooping clusters at the end
of branches, urn shaped.

Front 54

Chamaedaphne calyculata – leatherleaf

Back 54

evergreen shrub up to 4’ tall; leaves 1-2” long, leathery, narrow to elliptic, toothless, evergreen, brown
scales appear as dots, flowers small, axillary, white bell-like, in clusters in angles of upper leaves; bogs

Front 55

Kalmia polifolia – bog-laurel

Back 55

Short evergreen shrub less than 1 meters tall. Old stems dark, twigs swollen in nodes and pale brown.
Leaves opposite, leathery and evergreen, linear to barely oval in shape, tip of leaf blunt or narrowed to
point, stalkless with edges rolled under, dark above and white below with white underside hairs. Midrib on
underside with large purple stalked glands. flowers pink, saucer shaped and showy, in terminal clusters, 5
parted. Fruit, rounded capsule with persistent style. May-June. Conifer swamps and peatlands

Front 56

Vaccinium macrocarpon - large cranberry

Back 56

trailing evergreen shrub with slender stems; leaves wedge-shaped to round, blunt-tipped, 1/4”-5/8”;
flowers pink, solitary in axils; fruits red; bogs.

Front 57

Eriocaulon sp. – pipewort

Back 57

Perennial aquatic her with spongy distinctly segmented unbranched roots. Leaves grasslike in a rosette,
thin and translucent with parallel veins and 3-9 conspicuous cross-veins. Stems single, leafless slightly
twisted and may reach length of 3 meters. Flowers minute with hairy tepals, either male or female on same
or separate plant in a round head at the terminal end of the stem. Fruit is a small 2-3 seeded capsule. July-
September. Sandy or peatland shorelines, shallow water, acidic lakes

Front 58

Apios americana - groundnut, Indian-potato

Back 58

low perennial vine; strings of edible tubers produced underground; leaves w/ 5-7 lanceolate to ovate
leaflets; flowers deep red to purple-brown; moist woods, shores riverbanks, stream-sides, marshes, wet
prairie, wet meadows

Front 59

Quercus bicolor – swamp oak

Back 59

Medium size tree reaching height to 20 meters. Leaves alternate, simple, obovate, margin with large
irregular blunt teeth, to 15 cm long and 10 cm wide, leaf lobes highly rounded. Gray-brown bark with gray
to yellow twigs. Buds at branch tips. Flowers, male and female separate but present on same tree, male
flowers in catkins female flowers in groups of 2-4 in leaf axils. Fruit, a pair of ovate acorns on stalks. May.
floodplain forests, swamps, and low woods

Front 60

Gentiana procera – fringed gentian

Back 60

Smooth perennial herb. Leaves entire, simple, opposite, without petioles. Flowers showy, perfect regular
on short stalks at terminal end of stem, single or clusters. Petals 4-5, blue, purple, white or green joined for
at least part of stem. Fruit a two-cahmbered many seeded capsule with seeds flattened and winged.
Summer. Open wetlands, bogs, calcareous fens.

Front 61

Myriophyllum sp.- water milfoil

Back 61

stems simple or branched, submerged or sometimes floating or ascending; leaves variously arranged,
usually whorled and pinnately compound (feather like in appearance); inflorescence terminal or
axillary; mostly submerged or seasonally terrestrial.

Front 62

Myriophyllum spicatum- eurasian milfoil (nuisance introduced species)

Back 62

stems simple or branched, submerged or sometimes floating or ascending; leaves variously arranged,
usually whorled and pinnately compound (feather like in appearance); inflorescence terminal or
axillary; mostly submerged or seasonally terrestrial.; leaf segments per side mostly more than 12; turions absent.

Front 63

Myriophyllum tenellum – dwarf water milfoil

Back 63

Perennial aquatic herb found in dense clusters of very narrow stems. Leaves simple reduced to small
scales, stems often forked, erect with creeping rhizomes. Flowers imperfect pale 4 parted small; flowers
from stem tips that rise above water surface, petals small and absent. Fruit nutlike, 4 lobed, each lobe with one seed.
Acidic lakes, forms colonies especially in deep water.

Front 64

Elodea sp. - waterweed

Back 64

plants submersed; branching stems forming large masses at the bottom; leaves whorled (rarely opposite),
mostly 3, small ribbon-like; flowers from a spathe, pistillate with a long thread-like tube reaching surface;
shores, ponds, shallow marshes

Front 65

Vallisneria americana - wild celery, tape grass

Back 65

plants submersed; leaves long and strap-like with 3 distinctive layers and horizontal veins (crack-like
in appearance); plants male or female; female produce flowers which float at surface and attached to long
peduncles, male plants produce flowers which are released under water and rise to surface to float freely;
ponds, shallow marshes

Front 66

Iris sp. - iris

Back 66

thick rhizomes; leaves sword-like, arranged together in flat, fan-like pattern, up to three feet tall;
flowers large, in threes (3 petals, 3 sepals, 3 stamens, 3 styles), sepals are larger than petals curving down
and broadly veined, native species is blue-violet; swamps shallow marshes, swales, wet meadows

Front 67

Isoetes sp. – quillwort

Back 67

Perennial emergent or aquatic herb. Leaves simple, linear, and entire. Outermost and innermost leaves
typically sterile pointed with spoon-like base. Outermost leaves have sporangia bearing megaspores,
inner leaves have microspores. Stem is modified into a corm (underground onion like structure).
Quillworts produce spores instead of flowers or fruits. Shallow to moderate depths in lakes and slowlyflowing
rivers on sandy substrates, mud, and wet ground.

Front 68

Juncus sp. - rush

Back 68

looks similar to grass or sedge, however flowers resemble a lily (3 sepals, 3 petals,3 or 6 stamens and a
capsule), have a true perianth (6 tepals); NO ligule at junction of blade and sheath like the grass leaf; wet
meadow and coastal wetlands; some terrestrial

Front 69

Lycopus americanus - cut-leaved water horehound

Back 69

leaves opposite, deeply serrated; square stems; without odor; flowers small in clusters in axils, corolla is
a tube usually with two flaring lips; shores and moist ground.

Front 70

Mentha sp. - mint

Back 70

Aromatic, mostly square stems and opposite leaves. Flowers small, usually in spikes or in clustes in
axils of leaves. The corolla is a tube usually with 2 flaring lips (bilabitate); the upper lip notched or 2
lobed and the lower 3 lobed.

Front 71

Prunella vulgaris - selfheal

Back 71

Perennial herb. Stems to 40 cm tall and 4 angled (square stem). Leaves opposite, petiolate to oval,
margins with sharp teeth, stalkless. Flowers in dense terminal 4-angled spikes 2-5 cm long, with obvious
bracts. Fruit a smooth nutlet. June-October. Most types of wetland areas.

Front 72

Scutellaria sp. - selfheal

Back 72

Perennial herb. Leaves opposite, lance-shaped to ovate, hairless with toothed margins. Stems erect or
spreading, 4-angled. Flowers have generally a raceme inflouresence from the leaf axils, single or short
stalks in axils of upper and middle leaves. Flowers are blue to blue with whit markings with an upper lip
hood-like. Fruit a paired nutlet. June-September. Most wetland areas.

Front 73

Lindera bezoin - spice bush

Back 73

small shrub to 12’ high; leaves, branches, fruit and buds with a strong spicy odor; leaves elliptic, not
toothed, 2”-6”; flower buds stalked and flank stalkless leaf buds; flowers yellow in early spring; fruit a
red berry; floodplain, moist woods.

Front 74

Lemna minor - duckweed

Back 74

floating; with roots; without leaves; one root to each joint; green underneath; 2-5mm long; joints
rounded, not stalked; float until cold weather; shallow marshes, ponds, stagnant waters

Front 75

Lemna trisulca - star duckweed

Back 75

floating; with roots; without leaves; one root to each joint; green underneath; joints of plants long and
narrow (triangular), stalked; commonly sinking; shallow marshes, ponds, stagnant waters

Front 76

Spirodela polyrhiza - big duckweed

Back 76

floating; with roots; without leaves; plants red on the lower surface; each joint with several roots; 3-
10mm long; shallow marshes, ponds, stagnant waters

Front 77

Wolffia sp.

Back 77

floating; without roots; plants globular, like size of corn meal grains, 0.5-1.5mm long (smallest flowering
plant known to science); floating at or near the surface of water; smallest of flowering plants; shallow
marshes, ponds, stagnant waters

Front 78

Utricularia sp. - bladderwort

Back 78

small herbs; leaves filament-like submerged in mud or floating horizontally in shallow water usually with
tiny bladders (to catch small animal life); flowering stalk several inches tall, flower zygomorphic with two
lips and a spur, mostly yellow; fruit a pod; shallow marshes, muddy shore

Front 79

Decodon verticillatus - swamp loosestrife, water willow

Back 79

woody shrub up to 4’ tall; stems pale orange in color, highly arching, stems which touch the water
form an extensive spongy cork-like tissue and they often root; leaves are opposite or whorled, in pairs
or threes, lanceolate, entire margins, 2”-5”; flowers produced in axillary clusters, magenta; wet ground,
pond edges.

Front 80

Lythrum salicaria - purple loosestrife

Back 80

stems slender, angled, not woody (can be woody as they age); leaves opposite, not petioled, sort of heartshaped
at base; flowers numerous in long purple spikes; many seeded; wet meadow, shores, shallow
marsh.

Front 81

Marsilea sp. – water clover

Back 81

Perennial aquatic herb rooted in mud. Leaves with long petioles and floating blades. Blades divided in 4-
pinnae resembling a 4-leaf clover. Fern ally. Spores in dark sporocarps born on stalks at base of petioles.
Shallow waters.

Front 82

Najas sp. – naiad, water-nymph

Back 82

Aquatic annual herb, fibrous roots, emerge from slender stalk. Leaves opposite, paired, simple, or in
crowded whorls stalkless, widened leaf at base of stem, tapering to tip. Size and spacing of leaves is highly
variable. Stems fine and wavy. Flowers develop in leaf axils, single, stalkless, male and female flowers
separate and may be on different plants. Male flowers have a paper-thin envelope surrounding. Fruit is a 1-
seeded achene, with a glossy surface and 30-50 rows of small pits. July-September. Shallow to deep
waters, marshes and lakes

Front 83

Nelumbo lutea – american lotus-lily

Back 83

large peltate leaves, often held above the water surface, hairy below; large pale yellow flowers; unusual
cone like mature receptacle holding large (10cm wide) seeds (often sold for dried flower arrangements).

Front 84

Nuphar sp. - yellow water lily

Back 84

leaf blades oblong to oval or heart-shaped, sometimes emerging from the water; large floating leaves,
underground stem thick and fleshy; floating flower, with rounded yellow petal-like sepals.

Front 85

Nymphaea odorata - fragrant water lily

Back 85

platter-like large floating leaves, nearly orbicular in shape with a v-shaped cleft; underground stem thick
and fleshy; floating flower is white, fragrant with numerous petals and stamens; marshes and ponds, 10-
55cm deep.

Front 86

Fraxinus pennsylvanica - green ash

Back 86

large tree up to 60-70’ high; bark tight and closely furrowed; leaves opposite, 5-9 leaflets, short stalked,
toothed or not, 10”-12”; twigs hairless, mostly shiny; flowers in April; fruits wedge-shaped; lowlands,
floodplains, moist woods

Front 87

Ludwigia palustris – water-purslane

Back 87

Perrenial herb. Leaves opposite, ovate to lance-shaped, green to red in color, tapered at base to winged
petiole. Stems poor, creeping or partially floating, branched to simple, smooth or with sparse scattered
hairs. Flowers stalkless and single from leaf axils, petals absent and sepals triangular. Fruit a capsule. July-
September. Shallow water or exposed mud on pond margins.

Front 88

Osmunda cinnamomea - cinnamon fern

Back 88

leaves 3’ high, large, coarse, twice cut, lanceolate from central root stock; leaflets are lance-shaped,
pointed, cut deeply, 20 or more pairs, nearly opposite; bogs, swamps, stream-banks, edges of ponds.

Front 89

Osmunda regalis - royal fern

Back 89

fern; fronds bipinnate, large and semi-coarse, oblong, ovate; leaflets not opposite, 6 or more pairs; stipe
(frond axis) smooth or glabrous, some fronds sterile, some with fertile pinnae at their tips; bogs, lake
fronts, stream-banks, meadows

Front 90

Larix laricina - tamarack

Back 90

medium-large deciduous conifer tree, 40-80’ tall; needles slender, numerous to 1” long on short spurs,
forming circular or ring like structures; needles single on longer shoots; cones 1/2” long; bark is dark,
flakes off on small scales; bogs.

Front 91

Platanus occidentalis - sycamore

Back 91

large tree 50-130’ high; bark mottled like camouflage green-white-brown-grey, flakes off in a jigsawlike
puzzle; leaves alternate, 3-5 lobed, very large 6”-10”, edged w/ sharp teeth; leafstalk bases hollow,
encircle buds; flowers small in globose heads in April; fruits small, hairy, in tight brown long-stalked
hanging balls; floodplains, wet soil

Front 92

Calamagrostis canadensis - bluejoint

Back 92

leaves very narrow1-5mm thick; 1 floret per spikelet; bristle like hairs from floret; stem slight up to
1.5m tall; extensive creeping rootstocks; plants forming hummocks or tufts; inflorescence open loose
arrangement (like a true foxes tail), stamens and pistils borne in same spikelet without spines; shores,
swales, wet meadows.

Front 93

Echinochloa sp. - wild millet

Back 93

coarse grass 1-4’ tall, mostly erect, smooth, branching at base; leaves both sheaths and blades smooth
spikeletes with small stiff bristles; marshes, wet meadow, waste grounds, floodplain

Front 94

Elymus sp. - wildrye

Back 94

Perennial grass. Leaves flat with very short ligules. Spikelets paired at each spike node, distinctive.
Head a densely flowered spike. Glumes narrow and awn shaped. Wet to moist areas.

Front 95

Leersia oryzoides - rice cut grass

Back 95

stems 10cm-1m high; stems and leaves rough and cutting (feeling sticky); joints of stems with very small
stiff bristles or pubescence; inflorescence forming little spikelets, 1.5-2mm wide, fringed margins,
overlapping in a single row (like a stack of pancakes); wet meadow, shores, shallow marsh.

Front 96

Phalaris arundinaceae - reed canary grass

Back 96

leaves 5-15mm wide; slender tall grass up to 1.5m; found in large clumps; flowers in spikelets in club-like
masses (compound spike), stamens and pistils borne in same spikelet without spines, not all on one side;
shores, swales, wet meadows. Lemma with 2 tufts of silky hairs at base; native and alien species, which
can be highly invasive.

Front 97

Phragmites communis - reed grass

Back 97

stems erect up to 5 meters; leaves large, pennant-like, up to 5cm wide; rhizomonous and growing in
clumps or colonies; inflorescence feathery; wet meadow, shores, ditches, shallow marshes

Front 98

Spartina pectinata - cord grass

Back 98

stout grass, 1-2m tall, from stout scaly rootstocks; leaves tapering whip-like tips, very sharp and cutting on
margin; spikelets in several strong one-sided close spikes (according like in appearance); wet meadow,
shores, salt marshes, river edges, ditches.

Front 99

Zizania aquatica - wildrice

Back 99

Large annual emergent grass up to 3 meters tall, with fleshy yellow roots. Stems single or few together.
Leaves flat 1-3 mm wide smooth or finely hairy, alternate, sheaths short and hairy, ligule membranous or
entire. Inflorescence panicle, male and female flowers separate, female flowers upright, male flowers
spreading. Spikelets one flowered round with glumes. Male spikelets straw-colored to purple tapered to tip
with an awn, female spikelets purple or light green tapered to slender awn. Grain dark brown to black.
July-September. Shallow waters.

Front 100

Polygonum sp. - smartweed

Back 100

leaves long, narrow, lance-shaped; flower pink or whitish spike-like clusters, without petals, made up of
sepals; “knotted” or zigzag stems, swollen sheaths or joints with papery sheath (ochrea) at each joint;
very shallow marshes, wet places, swales, wet meadows, swamps.

Front 101

Rumex sp. - dock

Back 101

Perrenial herbs. Leaves large and clustered at base of plant, or can be leafy stemmed, oblong, flat to wavy
margins. Flowers in crowded whorls in panicles at end of stem, brown, becoming winged achenes. Fruit 3-
angled achene tipped with a slender beak. June-September. Wet meadows and wet non shaded areas

Front 102

Eichornia crassipes - water hyacinth (tropical)

Back 102

stems and leaves floating, emerged or creeping; inflorescence a spike or panicle; found in many aquatic
habitats. *a nuisance plant in Florida and other tropics.

Front 103

Pontedaria cordata - pickerelweed

Back 103

leaves clustered, large, arrow or heart-shaped with numerous parellel veins, extending erect above the
water surface; flowering stems consist of a single leaf and a dense spike of blue/purple bilabiate flowers;
marsh or pond; shallow water, 15-50cm deep

Front 104

Zosterella dubia – water star-grass

Back 104

Aquatic perennial herb. Stems slender, elongate and freely branched. Leaves alternate, sessile, linear,
obtuse to rounded or apiculate at the tip, 2-10(15) cm long, 2-5(7) mm wide. Flowers single and from leaf
axils. Streams, lakes, ponds.

Front 105

Potamogeton sp. - pondweed

Back 105

leaves generally with pronounced stipules , often in two kinds (floating and firm or submersed and
thin/membranous); flowers borne in spikes ascending above the water surface for wind pollination,
flowers in numerous pencil-like spikes, conspicuous in early to mid summer, retreating beneath the surface
when the fruit matures; identification is difficult; shallow marshes, ponds.

Front 106

Potamogeton amplifolius – large-leaf pondweed

Back 106

Aquatic perennial herb. Stems round and unbranched. Underwater leaves ovate to lance shaped 2-7 cm
wide. Floating leaves many-veined, with rounded or abruptly sharp tip 5-12 cm long. Flowers in dense
cylindrical spikes. Shallow to deep water of lakes and rivers

Front 107

Potamogeton crispus - curly pondweed

Back 107

Aquatic perennial herb. Stems compressed with few branches. Leaves al submersed, oblong rounded at tip
wavy with fine toothed margins and 3-5 veins. Invasive. Shallow to deep water of lakes, highly
pollution tolerant

Front 108

Potamogeton natans - floating-leaf pondweed

Back 108

plants submersed; leaves heart-shaped at base, submersed leaves 0.8-2mm. wide, floating leaves 4-9cm.
long and 2.5-6cm. wide; shallow marsh

Front 109

Potamogeton pectinatus - sago pondweed

Back 109

Aquatic perennial herb. Stems many branching and round. Leaves all underwater, 3-12 cm long, very
narrow to threadlike with stipules at base of blade, forming sheath. Shallow to deep water of lakes and
rivers, tolerant of brackish water.

Front 110

Potamogeton richardsonii - clasping-leaf pondweed

Back 110

plants submersed; leaves tapered or rounded at base, or absent, with 3-7 prominent nerves and wavy
margins; shallow marsh

Front 111

Lysimachia nummularia – moneywort, creeping jennie

Back 111

Perennial herb. Leaves opposite, dotted with black glands, round to oval usually in mats. Creeping stems
low to ground. Flowers single in leaf axils with triangular petals. Usually shady, wet areas. June-August.

Front 112

Riccia fluitans – floating liverwort

Back 112

Flat, ribbon shaped. Leaves absent. Sporophytes in air chambers in branching ribbon sections. Short
rhizoids. Low pH waters.

Front 113

Physocarpus opulifolius - ninebark

Back 113

shrub up to 10’ high; leaves 3-lobed, round-toothed and hairless, 1-5”; twigs hairless; bark peeling away
in large irregular flakes; flowers arranged in dense umbels; fruits small dry bladders in Sept.; rivers,
streams, shores, swamps, swales.

Front 114

Potentilla fruticosa - shrubby cinquefoil

Back 114

small shrub up to 3’; leaves pinnately compound with 5-7 crowded leaflets <1” long; leaves whitish in
appearance; flowers yellow and 5-merous; fen.

Front 115

Potentilla palustris - marsh cinquefoil

Back 115

leaves are toothed, 5-7 fingered; flowers erect, purple with petals pointed; flooded meadows, bogs.

Front 116

Rosa palustris - marsh rose

Back 116

Highly branching prickly shrub. Leaves alternate and palmately divided into usually seven leaflets.
Leaflets fine toothed margins. Twigs red-brown with paired downward curved prickles. Flowers single at
terminal end of branches. Fruit round and reddish orange. July-August. High prevelance in disturbed
wetlands, moist to wet areas, open bogs.

Front 117

Rubus hispidus – swamp dewberry

Back 117

Small creeping shrub. Leaves alternate divided into three leaflets (rarely five) that are ovate to obovate
and margins with rounded teeth. Stems have weak, dense backward bent bristles. Flowers in clusters with
gland tipped hairs. Fruit red and separating from receptacle when ripe. Thickets, wet areas, especially
found in disturbed areas.

Front 118

Spirea sp.

Back 118

Shrubs with slender wand-like twigs, narrow based and mostly toothed leaves, papery bark that often
flakes off, and raised leaf scars with only 1 bundle scar. Clusters of tiny dry 5 parted fruits often are
present at twig tips following white or pink flowers.

Front 119

Cephalanthus occidentalis - buttonbush

Back 119

shrub; leaves opposite, 2-3” long, in twos or whorls of three, waxy and thick, elliptic, sharp pointed;
flowers in spherical ball-like heads at the end of a long stalk in the axils of the upper leaves, whitish in
color; shallow marshes and ponds, scrub/shrub, floodplains along streams.

Front 120

Galium sp. - bedstraw, cleavers

Back 120

weak reclining square stems, sometimes scratchy or smooth; leaves in whorls of 4, 6 or 8; flowers in tiny
white clusters; shores, wet meadows, moist woods.

Front 121

Ptelea trifolia - hop-tree, wafer ash

Back 121

upright shrub or small tree, 10’-20’ high; twigs brownish, round; trunk bark smooth; leaves 3-parted,
smooth, alternate, aromatic, leaflets no teeth, leaves 4”-10”; buds hidden by petiole; fruit wafer-like,
papery, circular, Sept.-spring; moist thickets, stream-banks, alluvial woods

Front 122

Populus deltoides - cottonwood

Back 122

leaves triangular in shape with toothed margins, 3-6” long; flattened (terete) petioles; buds are gummy;
twigs hairless; 40’-80’ in height; wet grounds, swamps, forested bottomlands

Front 123

Salix sp. - willow

Back 123

variable species and difficult to identify to species: IN GENERAL: leaves alternate, usually lanceolate,
long and narrow; flowers arranged in catkins; characteristic of stream-banks and moist conditions,
floodplains, pond edges, shores.

Front 124

Sarracenia purpurea - pitcher plant

Back 124

perennial 8-24” high; “pitcher-like”; leaves heavily veined, red or green, usually half filled with water,
the flaring lips are lined with downward bristles to trap insects; flower dull red, nodding, on separate
stalk, with a large flattened pistil; bogs.

Front 125

Saururus cernuus - lizard’s tail

Back 125

perennial 2-5’ tall; leaves heart-shaped, base of petiole surrounds the stem, leaving a scar which
encircles the stem; flowers white, in long slender spikes, drooping or “nodding” near the tip; swamps,
floodplains, wet woods, muddy shores, margins of rivers, streams

Front 126

Mimulus ringens - square-stemmed monkey flower

Back 126

leaves sessile, toothed; flowers zygomorphic, violet, in pairs on long stalks in leaf axils; distinctive 5
joined sepals; stems square- ridged; swamps, wet places, stream-sides.

Front 127

Solanum dulcamara - nightshade

Back 127

perennial vine; leaves heart-shaped and lobed; flowers purple or blue; berries red; moist soil, wet
meadow, swales, stream banks, bogs.

Front 128

Sparganium sp. - bur-reed

Back 128

leaves long, ribbon-like, clustered basally, fairly thick if erect (sometimes limp), extending above the
surface up to 1.5m tall; lower pistillate flowers in bur-like, spherical heads, upper staminate flowers form
separate smaller balls, whitish-greenish-brown; fruit is a nutlet partly surrounded by scale-like sepals;
mature fruit is needed for identification to species; shallow marshes, swales, ponds.

Front 129

Sphagnum sp. - Sphagnum moss

Back 129

moss produces radially arranged branches, clustered near the tip of the growing stem, older stem regions
are limp and prostrate; stems and branches covered by small, overlapping leaves which consist of 2 types
of cells: living photosynthetic cells, and larger hyaline cells which are dead at maturity, these hyaline cells
serve as water storage “vaults” readily adsorbing water; create acidic conditions producing organic acids

Front 130

Typha angustifolia - narrow-leaved cattail

Back 130

leaves long thin and ribbon-like; stem is slender, underground stems spread rapidly; flowers small and
unisexual, arranged into close cylindrical spikes which consist of an upper region of staminate (male)
flowers and a lower region of pistillate (female) flowers in a dark brown spike (the male flower falls off
after pollination), staminate and pistillate portions are usually divided by at least 5mm; wet ground
shallow and deep waters; sign of disturbance; food for muskrats and cover for many types of wildlife.

Front 131

Typha latifolia - broad-leaved cattail

Back 131

leaves flat, thick and wide; stems stout, underground stems spread rapidly; flowers small and unisexual,
arranged into close cylindrical spikes which consist of an upper region of staminate (male) flowers and a
lower region of pistillate (female) flowers in a dark brown spike (the male flower falls off after
pollination), staminate and pistillate portions are usually contiguous; wet ground shallow and deep
waters; sign of disturbance; food for muskrats and cover for many types of wildlife.

Front 132

Ulmus americana - American elm

Back 132

large tree 80-100’ tall; outer bark consists of alternating pale white and dark brown layers like a
sandwich; twigs hairless; leaves alternate, sand papery, smooth or variable, oblique at base, 2-6” long;
buds over a 1/4”, light brown w/ dark edge scales; fruit a samara; swamp forests, floodplains, wet bogs,
and upland as well.

Front 133

Ulmus rubra - slippery elm

Back 133

medium-sized tree 40-60’ tall; inner bark mucilaginous when chewed; twigs rough-hairy; buds redhairy;
leaves alternate, very rough, sandpapery above, hairy beneath; fruit a samara; floodplains, streambanks,
rich hardwoods.

Front 134

Boehmeria cylindrica - false nettle

Back 134

16-40” tall; stem hollow, 4-angled; leaves opposite, NO stinging hairs, well stalked, coarsely toothed,
ovate; flowering stalks upright with cylindrical clusters, often with leaves at the terminal end, in the
leaf axils, green; floodplains, swamps.

Front 135

Laportea canadensis - wood nettle

Back 135

stem hollow, 4-angled; leaves alternate, toothed, with stinging hairs; flowering stalks upright,
flattened and mostly terminal, fruit with a strongly compressed achene; floodplains, stream banks,
swamps.

Front 136

Pilea pumila - clearweed

Back 136

l 4-20” high; watery-appearing with translucent stems; nettle-like in appearance, NO stinging hairs;
leaves opposite, short, with few teeth; flower cluster short, curved, drooping, in leaf axils in branched
clusters, green; floodplains, swamp forests, stream banks, low rich woods.

Front 137

Urtica dioica - stinging nettle

Back 137

plants up to 4’ tall; stinging hairs; stem hollow, 4-angled; leaves opposite; leaves opposite, well stalked,
coarsely toothed, heart-shaped clusters; flowers tiny green, in clusters drooping, in leaf axils; swamps,
damp woods and thickets, shores, river banks.

Front 138

Phyla lanceolata - fogfruit

Back 138

leaves opposite, toothed; flowers in round heads or short cylindric spikes on leafless stalks from leaf
axis

Front 139

Verbena hastata - blue vervain

Back 139

leaves opposite, toothed; flowers in branching pencil-like spikes from leaf axis, small five-petaled
flowers, blue-purple; stem grooved, four-sided; wet meadow

Front 140

Vitis riperia - river-bank grape

Back 140

vine; leaves alternate, roughly 3-lobed to about 12” long, leaf margins with teeth various and lobed
sinuses, shiny green on both surfaces; fruit glaucous; river banks, lowland to upland, shores, dunes.

Front 141

Xyris difformis - yellow eyed grass

Back 141

leaves are stiff and grass-like, basal, arranged in a fan-like fashion; flowers develop in axils of a series of
terminal overlapping bracts, resembles Eleocharis when older, yellow, 3-merous; bog.