Wetlands 1 Snapshot Information and Images
Arrowhead
Sagittaria lancifolia (saj-ah-TARE-ee-ah lance-ah-FOAL-ee-ah)
Arrowheads and Pickerelweed are among the most common and showy local water plants. There are multiple species of Sagittaria in South Florida, the most common in our area being Sagittaria lancifolia, with usually more or less elliptic leaves. The delicate white flowers have three petals and numerous yellow stamens. The flower center is a tight cluster of minute green seed-bearing leaves (carpels). Sometimes Sagittarias make tubers, or “duck potatoes.”
Sagittaria lancifolia (saj-ah-TARE-ee-ah lance-ah-FOAL-ee-ah)
Arrowheads and Pickerelweed are among the most common and showy local water plants. There are multiple species of Sagittaria in South Florida, the most common in our area being Sagittaria lancifolia, with usually more or less elliptic leaves. The delicate white flowers have three petals and numerous yellow stamens. The flower center is a tight cluster of minute green seed-bearing leaves (carpels). Sometimes Sagittarias make tubers, or “duck potatoes.”
Buttonbush
Cephalanthus occidentalis (seph-ah-LAN-thus ox-eh-dent-AY-lus)
In the Coffee Family, Buttonbush is an abundant wetland shrub. During its spring-summer flowering period the spherical flower heads are the size of golf balls and smell like "Gardenias." The leaves look like those of its relative Wildoffee, are usually in whorls of three, and have a triangular stipule between each pair of leaf bases. Look for that stipule, it helps confirm the identity. A stipule is a triangular flap or pair of flaps at the point where the leaf joins the stem in some plants.
Cephalanthus occidentalis (seph-ah-LAN-thus ox-eh-dent-AY-lus)
In the Coffee Family, Buttonbush is an abundant wetland shrub. During its spring-summer flowering period the spherical flower heads are the size of golf balls and smell like "Gardenias." The leaves look like those of its relative Wildoffee, are usually in whorls of three, and have a triangular stipule between each pair of leaf bases. Look for that stipule, it helps confirm the identity. A stipule is a triangular flap or pair of flaps at the point where the leaf joins the stem in some plants.
Cuban Bulrush
Oxycaryum cubense (ox-ee-CARE-ee-um CUBE-en-see)
See the Florida Grass site
This introduced weed standing 2-3 feet tall over the water or along wet shores is an aggressive wetland pest. The rhizomatous clumps form floating mat islands covering the water and crowding out other vegetation. The flower heads are nearly round, and the best giveaway identification feature is a white bony covering on the “seed” (achene). The stiff erect leaves are easy to spot.
Oxycaryum cubense (ox-ee-CARE-ee-um CUBE-en-see)
See the Florida Grass site
This introduced weed standing 2-3 feet tall over the water or along wet shores is an aggressive wetland pest. The rhizomatous clumps form floating mat islands covering the water and crowding out other vegetation. The flower heads are nearly round, and the best giveaway identification feature is a white bony covering on the “seed” (achene). The stiff erect leaves are easy to spot.
Dog Fennel
Eupatorium capillifolium (you-pah-TORE-ee-um cap-ill-ah-FOAL-ee-um)
Dog Fennel is an abundant native weed in Florida with a preference for wet sites. The annual plants start out tiny and can reach many feet tall as the season progresses. The highly dissected stringy droopy leaves look like dill and stink when crushed. The flower heads are white and small, the entire inflorescence being droopy like the leaves. There can be thousands of flower heads on a single plant. Recognize this species by its smell.
Eupatorium capillifolium (you-pah-TORE-ee-um cap-ill-ah-FOAL-ee-um)
Dog Fennel is an abundant native weed in Florida with a preference for wet sites. The annual plants start out tiny and can reach many feet tall as the season progresses. The highly dissected stringy droopy leaves look like dill and stink when crushed. The flower heads are white and small, the entire inflorescence being droopy like the leaves. There can be thousands of flower heads on a single plant. Recognize this species by its smell.
Dollarweed
Hydrocotyle umbellata (and other similar species) (high-dro-COT-eh-lee um-bah-LAY-tah)
We have a few native species of Hydrcotyle in Florida wetlands, and in Florida lawns. They are usually wetland plants, and become a problem in over-watered turf. These plants are in the Carrot Family, with tiny white flowers in umbels. Dollarweeds can develop extensive rhizome systems, sometimes even floating on the water surface.
Hydrocotyle umbellata (and other similar species) (high-dro-COT-eh-lee um-bah-LAY-tah)
We have a few native species of Hydrcotyle in Florida wetlands, and in Florida lawns. They are usually wetland plants, and become a problem in over-watered turf. These plants are in the Carrot Family, with tiny white flowers in umbels. Dollarweeds can develop extensive rhizome systems, sometimes even floating on the water surface.
Hempvine
Mikania scandens (my-CANE-ee-ah SCAN-dens)
Hempvine is a weedy rampant twining-climbing vine in the Aster Family. The alternate leaves are variably heart-shaped or arrow-head shaped. The flower heads are small, white, and feathery, followed by nearly white parachute-fruits in large, often showy fuzzy heads. The similar Mikania cordifolia has the notches at the leaf bases rounder and broader than those of M. scandens.
Mikania scandens (my-CANE-ee-ah SCAN-dens)
Hempvine is a weedy rampant twining-climbing vine in the Aster Family. The alternate leaves are variably heart-shaped or arrow-head shaped. The flower heads are small, white, and feathery, followed by nearly white parachute-fruits in large, often showy fuzzy heads. The similar Mikania cordifolia has the notches at the leaf bases rounder and broader than those of M. scandens.
Maidencane Grass
Panicum hemitomon (PAN-ah-come hem-ee-TOME-um)
See the Florida Grass site
Maidencane is large, conspicuous, and common. Find it in standing water or on soggy ground in the sun, often on the shores of shallow ponds. It stands 3-5 feet tall. The leaves are particularly wide where the leaf base joins the stem. The flower clusters are vertical and narrow.
Panicum hemitomon (PAN-ah-come hem-ee-TOME-um)
See the Florida Grass site
Maidencane is large, conspicuous, and common. Find it in standing water or on soggy ground in the sun, often on the shores of shallow ponds. It stands 3-5 feet tall. The leaves are particularly wide where the leaf base joins the stem. The flower clusters are vertical and narrow.
Old World Climbing Fern
Lygodium microhyllum (lie-GODE-ee-um my-crow-FILL-um) (or my-CROPH-ah-lum)
Old World Climbing Fern is a nasty invasive exotic in wet places. It is a vining fern able to climb into tall trees. The entire vine can be a single leaf. The invasion started near Jupiter, Florida and has spread rapidly. This pest can cover and smother other vegetation.
Lygodium microhyllum (lie-GODE-ee-um my-crow-FILL-um) (or my-CROPH-ah-lum)
Old World Climbing Fern is a nasty invasive exotic in wet places. It is a vining fern able to climb into tall trees. The entire vine can be a single leaf. The invasion started near Jupiter, Florida and has spread rapidly. This pest can cover and smother other vegetation.
Pickerel Weed
Pontederia cordata (pon-teh-DARE-ee-ah cor-DATE-ah)
One of the most common showy local water plants. Pickerel Weed is an emergent aquatic often encountered in shallow water or along shores. The leaf blades are vaguely arrow-head-shaped. The purple flowers are numerous and crowded in vertical wands. Pickerel Weed and Water Hyacinth are related, but Pickerel Weed is rooted in the mud, not provided with the floats on Water Hyacinth.
Pontederia cordata (pon-teh-DARE-ee-ah cor-DATE-ah)
One of the most common showy local water plants. Pickerel Weed is an emergent aquatic often encountered in shallow water or along shores. The leaf blades are vaguely arrow-head-shaped. The purple flowers are numerous and crowded in vertical wands. Pickerel Weed and Water Hyacinth are related, but Pickerel Weed is rooted in the mud, not provided with the floats on Water Hyacinth.
Sawgrass
Cladium jamaicense (CLADE-ee-um ja-may-SEN-see)
See the Florida Grass site
See the Blog
Welcome to South Florida! Sawgrass is emblematic of the Everglades. This large sedge can stand 8 feet tall, with branched inflorescences rising above the leaves. The narrow leaf blades are finely saw-toothed, with the teeth pointing forward.
Cladium jamaicense (CLADE-ee-um ja-may-SEN-see)
See the Florida Grass site
See the Blog
Welcome to South Florida! Sawgrass is emblematic of the Everglades. This large sedge can stand 8 feet tall, with branched inflorescences rising above the leaves. The narrow leaf blades are finely saw-toothed, with the teeth pointing forward.
Smallfruit Beggarticks
Bidens mitis (BYE-dens MY-tus)
Bidens mitis is common in wetlands. It is related to the well-known white-flowered weed, Spanish Needles, Bidens alba, which has similar opposite compound leaves with serrate leaflets. Bidens mitis might be confused with the Tickseeds, species of Coreopsis, but the flower heads in Tickseeds mature to a black center, but in the Bidens the flower heads stay yellow or nearly so at the center.
Bidens mitis (BYE-dens MY-tus)
Bidens mitis is common in wetlands. It is related to the well-known white-flowered weed, Spanish Needles, Bidens alba, which has similar opposite compound leaves with serrate leaflets. Bidens mitis might be confused with the Tickseeds, species of Coreopsis, but the flower heads in Tickseeds mature to a black center, but in the Bidens the flower heads stay yellow or nearly so at the center.
Swamp Fern
Blechnum serrulatum (BLECK-num ser-you-LAY-tum)
One of our area’s more common ferns in varied habitats, in sun or shade, on sites with medium moisture to standing water. The leaflets are edged with tiny sawteeth, giving the name serrulatum. The spore clusters (sori) are distinctive, running like two brown fuzzy railroad tracks down the centers of the bottom sides of fertile leaflets. Swamp Fern can form large colonies.
Blechnum serrulatum (BLECK-num ser-you-LAY-tum)
One of our area’s more common ferns in varied habitats, in sun or shade, on sites with medium moisture to standing water. The leaflets are edged with tiny sawteeth, giving the name serrulatum. The spore clusters (sori) are distinctive, running like two brown fuzzy railroad tracks down the centers of the bottom sides of fertile leaflets. Swamp Fern can form large colonies.
Water Hyacinth
Eichhornia crassipes (eye-KORN-ee-ah CRASS-ah-peas)
This introduced floating pest with pretty purple flowers can smother the surface of lakes and canals, choking out, crowding out, and shading out other life, and polluting the water while taking up oxygen as it decays. Water Hyacinth interferes with navigation, with fishing, and with water control devices. Note the inflated floats on the leaves.
Eichhornia crassipes (eye-KORN-ee-ah CRASS-ah-peas)
This introduced floating pest with pretty purple flowers can smother the surface of lakes and canals, choking out, crowding out, and shading out other life, and polluting the water while taking up oxygen as it decays. Water Hyacinth interferes with navigation, with fishing, and with water control devices. Note the inflated floats on the leaves.
White Water Lily
Nymphaea odorata (NIMF-ee-ah oh-door-AY-tah)
See the Blog
White Water Lily has nearly round floating leaves, and bowl-sized white floating flowers with numerous petals, and many yellow stamens. Read in the blog how it kills its own pollinators.
Nymphaea odorata (NIMF-ee-ah oh-door-AY-tah)
See the Blog
White Water Lily has nearly round floating leaves, and bowl-sized white floating flowers with numerous petals, and many yellow stamens. Read in the blog how it kills its own pollinators.