List of Flora
for Ponds & Small Lakes

  –––– Pond & Small Lake Flora –––– 
Scientific Name Common Name
Acalypha virginica §§ Three-Seeded Mercury
Acorus calamus ** §
(including Acorus americanus)
Sweet Flag
Agalinis tenuifolia §§
(sandy soil)
Slender Gerardia
Alisma subcordatum ** § Water Plantain
Alisma triviale ** § Large-Flowered Water Plantain
Alopecurus aequalis ** § §§ Short-Awned Foxtail
Amaranthus rudis §
(disturbed areas)
Water Hemp
Amaranthus tubeculatus §
(disturbed areas)
Western Water Hemp
Ammannia coccinea §
(including Ammannia robusta)
Scarlet Toothcup
Amorpha fruticosa §§ False Indigo
Apocynum cannabinum §§
(including Apocynum sibiricum)
Common Dogbane
Arnoglossum plantagineum §§ Prairie Indian Plantain
Asclepias incarnata § §§ Swamp Milkweed
Aster dumosus §§
(sandy soil)
Rice Button Aster
Aster lanceolatus §§ Panicled Aster
Aster novae-angliae §§ New England Aster
Aster praealtus §§ Willow Aster
Aster puniceus §§
(including Aster firmus)
Swamp Aster
Azolla caroliniana * ** Mosquito Fern
Azolla mexicana * ** Mosquito Fern
Bacopa rotundifolia ** § Water Hyssop
Berula erecta § Low Water Parsnip
Bidens spp. §§ Swamp Marigold, Beggar's Ticks, etc.
Bidens aristosa §§ Swamp Marigold
Bidens cernua § Nodding Bur-Marigold
Bidens frondosa §§ Common Beggar's Ticks
Bolboschoenus fluviatilis ** §
(formerly Scirpus fluviatilis)
River Bulrush
Bolboschoenus maritimus §
(sandy soil)
Bayonet Grass
Boltonia asterioides §§ False Aster
Brasenia schreberi * ** Water Shield
Callitriche verna ** Common Water Starwort
Callitriche heterophylla ** Large Water Starwort
Calystegia sepium §§ Hedge Bindweed
Cabomba caroliniana * ** Carolina Fanwort
Campanula aparinoides §§
(including Campanula uliginosa)
Marsh Bellflower
Carex spp. § §§ Sedge spp.
Carex aquatilis substricta § §§ Aquatic Sedge
Carex comosa § §§ Porcupine Sedge
Carex crinita § §§ Fringed Sedge
Carex lacustris ** § Lake Sedge
Carex laeviconica §§ Plains Slough Sedge
Carex lasiocarpa americana §§ Hairy-Fruited Sedge
Carex lupuliformis §§
(some shade)
Hop-Like Sedge
Carex lupulina §§
(some shade)
Hop Sedge
Carex lurida §§ Sallow Sedge
Carex muskingumensis §§
(some shade)
Muskingum Sedge
Carex scoparia §§ Pointed Broom Sedge
Carex vulpinioidea §§ Foxtail Sedge
Cephalanthus occidentalis ** § Buttonbush
Ceratophyllum demersum * ** Coontail
Ceratophyllum echinatum * ** Spiny Coontail
Chelone glabra § §§ White Turtlehead
Chelone obliqua §§
(some shade)
Pink Turtlehead
Cicuta bulbifera § Bulblet Water Hemlock
Cicuta maculata § §§ Water Hemlock
Conoclinium coelestinum § §§ Mistflower
Cornus obliqua §§ Pale Dogwood
Cuscuta cephalanthi §§ Buttonbush Dodder
Cuscuta polygonorum §§ Smartweed Dodder
Cyperus bipartitus §
(formerly Cyperus rivularis)
Brook Flatsedge
Cyperus diandrus § Low Flatsedge
Cyperus engelmanni § Engelmann's Flatsedge
Cyperus strigosus § Straw-Colored Flatsedge
Cypripedium parviflorum §§ Small Lady's Slipper Orchid
Decodon verticillatus §
(some shade)
Swamp Loosestrife
Didiplis diandra ** Water Purslane
Doellingeria umbellata §§
(formerly Aster umbellata)
(sandy areas)
Flat-Topped Aster
Echinochloa muricata muricata § §§ Awned Barnyard Grass
Echinochloa muricata weigandii § §§ Awnless Barnyard Grass
Echinochloa walteri § §§ Wild Millet
Echinodorus berteroi § Tall Bur-Head
Echinodorus cordifolius § Creeping Bur-Head
Echinodorus tenellus § Small Bur-Head
Eclipta prostrata § Yerba-de-Tajo
Elatine triandra ** Waterwort
Eleocharis spp. ** § Spike-Rush spp.
Eleocharis ovata §
(different varieties)
Blunt Spike -Rush
Eleocharis palustris ** § Marsh Spike-Rush
Elodea canadensis * ** Common Waterweed
Elodea nuttallii * ** Nuttall's Waterweed
Epilobium spp. §§ Willow-Herb spp.
Epilobium angustifolium §§
(sandy soil)
Fireweed
Equisetum × ferrisii § Intermediate Scouring Rush
Equisetum fluviatile ** § Water Horsestail
Equisetum hyemale affine ** § Scouring Rush
Equisetum laevigatum § §§ Smooth Scouring Rush
Equisetum variegatum §
(sandy soil)
Variegated Scouring Rush
Eragrostis reptans §
(sandy soil)
Pony Grass
Erigeron philadelphicus §§ Marsh Fleabane
Eriocaulon aquaticum §
(sandy soil)
Pipewort
Eryngium prostratum § Spreading Eryngo
Eupatoriadelphus fistulosus §§
(formerly Eupatorium fistulosum)
(some shade)
Hollow-Stemmed Joe-Pye Weed
Eupatoriadelphus maculatus §§
(formerly Eupatorium maculatum)
Spotted Joe-Pye Weed
Eupatorium perfoliatum § §§ Common Boneset
Euthamia graminifolia §§
(formerly Solidago graminifolia)
Grass-Leaved Goldenrod
Fuirena scirpoides § Umbrella Grass
Galium obtusum §§ Wild Madder
Galium tinctorium §§ Stiff Bedstraw
Gentiana andrewsii §§ Bottle Gentian
Gentiana crinita §§ Fringed Gentian
Glyceria spp. § §§ Manna Grass spp.
Glyceria septentrionalis § §§ Eastern Manna Grass
Gratiola aurea §
(sandy soil)
Golden Pert
Gratiola neglecta § Clammy Hedge Hyssop
Gratiola virginiana § Round-Fruited Hedge Hyssop
Helenium autumnale § §§ Sneezeweed
Hemicarpha drummondii §
(sandy soil)
Drummond's Hemicarpha
Heteranthera spp. ** § Mud Plantain spp.
Heteranthera limosa ** § Mud Plantain spp.
Hibiscus laevis § §§ Halberd-Leaved Rose Mallow
Hibiscus lasiocarpus § §§ Downy Rose Mallow
Hibiscus moscheutos § §§ Swamp Rose Mallow
Hippurus vulgaris ** Mare's Tail
Hottonia inflata **
(some shade)
Featherfoil
Hydrocotyle ranunculoides ** § Water Pennywort sp.
Hydrocotyle umbellata § Water Pennywort sp.
Hypericum adpressum §§ Creeping St. John's Wort
Hypericum boreale § §§
(sandy soil)
Northern St. John's Wort
Hypericum canadense § §§
(sandy soil)
Canada St. John's Wort
Hypericum gymnanthum § §§ Small St. John's Wort
Hypericum mutilum §§
(sandy soil)
(some shade)
Weak-Stemmed St. John's Wort
Impatiens capensis § §§
(some shade)
Orange Jewelweed
Iris brevicaulis § §§
(sandy or gravelly soil)
Wild Blue Iris
Iris virginica shrevei § §§ Blue Flag Iris
Isoetes melanopoda ** § Black-Based Quillwort
Juncus acuminatus § Pointed Rush
Juncus alpinoarticulatus §
(sandy soil)
Alpine Rush
Juncus balticus §
(sandy soil)
Baltic Rush
Juncus brachycephalus § Short-Headed Rush
Juncus dudleyi § §§ Dudley's Rush
Juncus effusus ** § Soft Rush
Juncus marginatus §
(sandy soil)
Grass-Leaved Rush
Juncus nodatus § Stout Rush
Juncus nodosus §
(sandy soil)
Knotted Rush
Juncus torreyi § §§ Torrey's Rush
Juncus vaseyi § Vasey's Rush
Justicia americana ** § Water Willow
Lathyrus palustris §§ Marsh Vetchling
Leersia lenticularis § §§ Catchfly Grass
Leersia oryzoides § §§ Rice Cut Grass
Lemna spp. * ** Duckweed spp.
Lemna minor * ** Lesser Duckweed
Lemna trisulca * ** Star Duckweed
Leptochloa attenuata §
(sandy soil)
Sprangletop
Leucospora multifida §
(some shade)
Conobea
Limnobium spongia ** *
(some shade)
Sponge Plant
Lindernia anagallidea § Slender False Pimpernel
Lindernia dubia § False Pimpernel
Lipocarpha maculata § Spotted Lipocarpha
Lobelia cardinalis §§ Cardinal Flower
Lobelia siphilitica §§
(some shade)
Great Blue Lobelia
Ludwigia palustris ** § Marsh Purslane
Ludwigia peploides glabrescens ** § Creeping Water Primrose
Ludwigia polycarpa § False Loosestrife
Lycopus americanus § Common Bugleweed
Lycopus asper § Western Bugleweed
Lycopus virginicus § Virginia Bugleweed
Lysimachia hybrida § §§ Mississippi Valley Loosestrife
Lysimachia quadriflora §§ Prairie Loosestrife
Lysimachia thyrsiflora § §§ Tufted Loosestrife
Lythrum alatum § §§ Winged Loosestrife
Megalodonta beckii * ** Water Marigold
Mimulus alatus § §§ Winged Monkey Flower
Mimulus ringens § §§ Monkey Flower
Muhlenbergia frondosa §§ Common Satin Grass
Muhlenbergia racemosa §§ Marsh Muhly
Myriophyllum spp. * ** Water Milfoil spp.
Najas spp. ** Naiad spp.
Najas flexilis ** Naiad sp.
Neobeckia aquatica ** Lake Cress
Nelumbo lutea * American Lotus
Nuphar advena * Spatterdock
Nuphar variegata * Bullhead Water Lily
Nymphaea odorata * Fragrant Water Lily
Nymphaea tuberosa * White Water Lily
Oldenlandia uniflora § One-Flowered Oldenlandia
Onoclea sensibilis §§
(sandy soil)
Sensitive Fern
Oxypolis rigidior § §§
(sandy soil)
Cowbane
Panicum dichotomiflorum § §§
(disturbed areas)
Fall Panicum
Panicum rigidulum § §§ Munro Grass
Paspalum floridanum §§
(sandy soil)
Giant Bead Grass
Paspalum fluitans ** §
(sheltered shaded areas)
Swamp Bead Grass
Pedicularis lanceolata §§
(sandy soil)
Swamp Betony
Peltandra virginica ** §
(partial shade)
Arrow Arum
Penthorum sedoides § §§ Ditch Stonecrop
Peplis diandra ** § Water Purslane
Persicaria amphibium * ** Water Smartweed
Persicaria hydropiperoides ** § §§ Mild Water Pepper
Persicaria lapathifolia § §§ Pale Smartweed
Persicaria pensylvanica § §§ Pennsylvania Smartweed
Persicaria punctata § §§ Dotted Smartweed
Poa palustris §§ Fowl Bluegrass
Phalaris arundinacea § §§ Reed Canary Grass
Phragmites australis ** § Common Reed (or Giant Reed)
Phyla lanceolata § §§ Fogfruit (or Frogfruit)
Platanthera blephariglottis §§
(sandy soil)
White-Fringed Orchid
Platanthera ciliaris §§
(sandy soil)
Orange-Fringed Orchid
Platanthera lacera §§
(sandy soil)
Green-Fringed Orchid
Platanthera peramoena §§ Purple Fringeless Orchid
Pluchea camphorata §§ Camphorweed (or Stinkweed)
Pontederia cordata ** § Pickerelweed
Populus deltoides §§ Eastern Cottonwood
Potamogeton spp. Pondweed spp.
Potamogeton foliosus * ** Leafy Pondweed
Potamogeton illinoensis * ** Illinois Pondweed
Potamogeton nodosus * ** Long-Leaved Pondweed
Potamogeton pulcher * ** Spotted Pondweed
Potamogeton pusillus * ** Little Pondweed
Potamogeton zosteriformis * ** Flat-Stemmed Pondweed
Proserpinacea palustris ** § Mermaid Weed
Ranunculus flabellaris * ** Yellow Water Buttercup
Ranunculus gmelinii hookeri ** Small Yellow Water Buttercup
Ranunculus longirostris * ** Stiff White Water Buttercup
Ranunculus trichophyllus * ** White Water Buttercup
Rorippa palustris § §§ Common Yellow Cress
Rorippa sessiliflora § §§ Sessile-Flowered Yellow Cress
Rosa palustris §§ Swamp Rose
Rotala ramosior § Wheelwort
Rumex altissimus §§ Pale Dock
Rumex orbiculatus § §§ Great Water Dock
Rumex verticillatus § §§ Swamp Dock
Sabatia angularis § §§
(sandy soil)
Marsh Rose-Pink
Sagittaria spp. ** § Arrow-Head spp.
Sagittaria graminea ** § Grass-Leaved Arrow-Head
Sagittaria latifolia ** § Common Arrow-Head
Salix amygdaloides §§
(some shade)
Peach-Leaved Willow
Salix discolor §§ Pussy Willow
Salix glaucophylloides § §§
(calcareous sandy soil)
Blue-Leaved Willow
Salix interior § §§ Sandbar Willow
Salix petiolaris §§ Meadow Willow
Salix rigida §§ Heart-Leaved Willow
Samolus parviflorus ** §
(some shade)
Brookweed
Saxifraga pensylvanica §§ Swamp Saxifrage
Schoenoplectus acutus **
(formerly Scripus acutus)
Hard-Stemmed Bulrush
Schoenoplectus hallii § Hall's Bulrush
Schoenoplectus heterochaetus § Slender Bulrush
Schoenoplectus pungens ** §
(formerly Scirpus americanus)
Three-Square
Schoenoplectus smithii § Smith's Bulrush
Schoenoplectus tabernaemontani ** §
(formerly Scirpus validus)
Soft-Stemmed Bulrush
Scirpus atrovirens § §§ Dark-Green Bulrush
Scirpus cyperinus § §§ Wool Grass
Scleria muhlenbergii §
(sandy soil)
Muhlenberg's Nut-Rush
Scutellaria latifolia § §§
(some shade)
Mad Dog Skullcap
Senecio glabellus § §§ Butterweed
Sium suave ** § §§ Water Parsnip
Solidago gigantea §§
(some shade)
Giant Goldenrod
Solidago patula §§ Swamp Marigold
Sparganium spp. ** § Bur-Reed spp.
Sparganium americanum ** § American Bur-Reed
Sparganium emersum ** § Green-Fruited Bur-Reed
Sparganium eurycarpum ** § Giant Bur-Reed
Spartina pectinata §§ Prairie Cordgrass
Spermacoce glabra § Smooth Buttonweed
Spiraea alba §§ Meadowsweet
Spiraea tomentosa § §§
(sandy acid soil)
Steeplebush (or Hardhack)
Spiranthes cernua §§
(sandy soil)
Nodding Ladies' Tresses Orchid
Spirodela spp. * ** Greater Duckweed spp.
Spirodela polyrhiza * ** Greater Duckweed
Stuckenia pectinata * **
(formerly Potamogeton pectinatus)
Sago Pondweed
Thelypteris palustris §§
(sandy soil)
Marsh Fern
Tracaulon arifolium §§
(syn. Polygonum arifolium)
Halberd-Leaved Tear-Thumb
Tracaulon sagittatum §§
(syn. Polygonum sagittatum)
Tear-Thumb
Triglochin maritima §
(sandy areas)
Arrow-Grass sp.
Tripsacum dactyloides §§ Eastern Gama Grass
Typha angustifolia ** § Narrow-Leaved Cattail
Typha latifolia ** Common Cattail
Utricularia cornuta **
(sandy or peaty soil)
Horned Bladderwort
Utricularia gibba ** Humped Bladderwort
Utricularia intermedia **
(or Utricularia media)
Flat-Leaved Bladderwort
Utricularia macrorhiza **
(formerly Utricularia vulgaris)
Common Bladderwort
Utricularia minor ** Small Bladderwort
Utricularia purpurea ** Purple Bladderwort
Utricularia resupinata **
(sandy soil)
Small Purple Bladderwort
Valisneria americana * ** Wild Celery
Verbena hastata §§ Blue Vervain
Verbena urticifolia §§
(partial shade)
White Vervain
Vernonia fasciculata §§ Smooth Ironweed
Veronica anagallis-aquatica § Water Speedwell
Veronica comosa § Water Speedwell
Veronica scutellata § §§ Marsh Speedwell
Viburnum lentago §§ Nannyberry
Viola cucullata §§
(some shade)
Marsh Violet
Viola lanceolata §§
(sandy areas)
Lance-Leaved Violet
Wolffia spp. * ** Watermeal spp.
Wolffia columbiana * ** Watermeal sp.
Wolffiella gladiata * ** Mud Midget
Xyris torta §
(sandy soil)
Twisted Yellow-Eyed Grass
Zannichellia palustris major * ** Horned Pondweed
Zizania aquatica ** Wild Rice
Zizaniopsis miliacea § Southern Wild Rice
Zosterella dubia ** § Water Stargrass

*open water, **shallow water near shorelines, § wet borders, muddy or sandy shores,
§§ low ground near body of water

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