Chara is a native, submerged algae. Chara is gray-green or yellow in appearance and feels gritty. It has a strong garlic-like odor, especially when crushed. Chara can grow up to 39 inches in length.

Stems:  The round stem-like feature is round and hollow, and grows from 2 inches to over 39 inches in length.

Leaves:  This algae lacks true leaves. There are 6 to 16 leaf-like branchlets that grow circular around the stem.

Flowers:  Algae do not produce flowers.

Reproduction:   A ball-like spore forms on the branchlets and is carried away by water or waterfowl to replant itself on the lake bottom.

Often Confused With:   Nitella is similar in appearance.

Chara has been identified in several locations at Smith Mountain Lake

Sago Pondweed is a submersed perennial plant. Sago pondweed appears bushy with numerous branches and tiny leaves. The pondweed can be found throughout the United States. It is a valuable source of food for waterfowl. It is also a great shelter for small fish and invertebrates.

Stems: The stems are thin, long and highly branching.

Leaves: The leaves are thin, about 1\16 inch wide, and 2 to 12 inches long. They grow in thick layers.

Flowers:   Flowers from June to September and its fruit are nut-like. Flower is about 1/8 inch to 1/4 inch long and 1/10 to 1/8 inch wide.

Reproduction:  Sago Pondweed reproduces by seed and by vegetative reproduction. The vegetative reproduction happens when tubers form at the ends of the underground stem and the leaf shoots. The tubers will preserve through winter and new plants will form in the spring.

Often confused With: Sago Pondweed resembles Horned pondweed and Widgeon grass.

Sago Pondweed has been identified at Smith Mountain Lake

Additional information about Sago Pondweed is available on the following link:

http://www.ecy.wa.gov/programs/wq/plants/navtive/sago.html (Washington State Department of Ecology)

The American Waterweed has several different names such as Canadian waterweed, Common Elodea, and Anacharis. The American Waterweed is an attractive aquarium plant. It lives entirely underwater and can grow in shallow to deep water. It can be perceived as a nuisance, but is greatly significant to the ecosystems. It offers a good habitat for aquatic invertebrates and cover for young fish. The American Waterweed is food for ducks, beavers, and muskrat.

Leaves:   The leaves are bright green, and narrow, with fine teeth along the edge of the leaf. The three leaves are in a circular arrangement.

Flowers:  The flower is on the surface of the water. It blooms from mid-summer to early fall.

Reproduction:   There are two ways for the American waterweed to reproduce. In the fall, leafy stalks break apart and float away. The rootstalk forms a new plant. It can also reproduce by seed.

Often Confused with:   The American waterweed is often confused with Brazilian Elodea and Hydrilla.

Additional information about American Waterweed is available on the following link:

http://www.dnr.Maryland.gov/bay/sav/key/common_waterweed.asp  (Maryland Department of Natural Resources)

Southern Naiad
Najas guadalupensis

Cygnetwest.com

There are about 40 species of Southern Naiads in the world.  All of them are submersed and annual plants. Southern Naiad may be found in springs, lakes, ponds and canals.

Stems:   The stems are long and slender and can be up to 24 inches long.

Leaves:   Southern Naiad leaves are very narrow and one inch in length. The leaves are less than 1/16 inch wide and have teeth on the edges of the leaf, which cannot be seen with the naked eye.

Flowers:   Southern Naiad produces a flower, but it is very small and inconspicuous.

Reproduction:  The plant can multiply by seed and fragmentation. The Southern Naiad is a brittle plant, which easily breaks into smaller pieces, which then root and produce more plants.

Often Confused with:  Southern Naiad can be confused with Slender Pondweed.

Sago Pondweed has been identified at Smith Mountain Lake

Additional information about Southern Naiad is available on the following link:

University of Florida - Center for Aquatic and Invasive Plants

Coontail
Ceratophyllum demersum

The Coontail is an annual plant that has no roots. It is a submersed plant that grows in deep water and often cannot be seen from the surface. The plants are usually rough to the touch. Coontail can grow up to 15 feet or longer, and form large colonies.

Stems:  The stems are long, branched, free-floating and are tenuously attached; thus they fragment readily.

Leaves:   The feathery leaves circle around the stem, which resembles a racoon's tail. The leaves are ½ to ¾ inches long and each leaf has several small teeth in its center vein.

Flowers:  The flower is nestled in the center of the leaves and is entirely submersed. The plant will flower from late summer through fall.

Often Confused with:   Coontail may be confused with Fanwort.

Coontail has been identified at Smith Mountain Lake

Additional information about Coontail is available on the following link:

:http://www.ppws.vt.edu/scott/weed_id/ceyde.htm (VA Tech Weed Identification Guide)

Water Lily
Nymphaea Odorata

Boreal Forest

The Water Lily is a perennial plant, which is native to the eastern United States. The water Lily will flower from late spring through fall.

Leaves: The leaves are nearly circular; each leaf has a deep cleft to the stem. The color on the underside of the leaf is red or purple, and it has many veins. The leaf can get up to 11 inches in diameter.

Stems:   The stems are connected to the center of the leaf.

Flowers:  Each lily may have a single flower. The flower is three to five inches wide and is generally white, although some may be yellow, pink, or purple.

Reproduction:   Water Lilies reproduce by seed and by stems sprouting from near the roots.   

Water Lily has been identified at Smith Mountain Lake

Additional information about Water Lilies is available on the following link:

http://www.ecy.wa.gov/programs/wq/plants/weeds/lily.html (Washington State Department of Ecology)

 Nitella      

  Nitella are native, submerged algae.  It is light to dark green with soft bushy branches.  Nitella has no odor,and will not extend above the surface of the water.

 Stems:  Similar to Chara, Nitella has a hollow stem like structure with forked branches.

Leaves:  No true leaves.  Six to eight evenly forked branchlets spaced evenly along “stem”.

 Flowers:  Does not produce flowers.

Reproduction: Spreads by spores and plant fragments.

Often confused with:  Chara or Coontail

Nitella has been identified at Smith Mountain Lake

 This information was obtained from:

 Aquaplant, Texas A&M University: http://aquaplant.tamu.edu 

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Waterwillow

 justica americana

Waterwillow is a native, submerged plant that can grow up to 3 feet above the water’s surface.  It grows best in shallow water (1– 4 feet)..

Stems:  The stems, which emerge from rhizomes, can be several feet long and become spongy where submerged.  The stems can arch over and develop roots where they dip into water.

Leaves:  The leaves are lance-shaped (2” – 6”) and are arranged in pairs or whorls of three.

Flowers:  Violet, to nearly white flowers with purple markings.

Reproduction: Plants spread by rhizomes and by seeds which are forcibly ejected from the plant.

Often confused with:  Purple Loosestrife

Waterwillow has been identified at Smith Mountain Lake

This information was obtained from:

 Through the Looking Glass…A Field Guide to Aquatic Plants

By: Susan Borman, Robert Korth, Jo Temte

Wisconsin Lakes Partnership

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