Floating Plants
Submerged plants are rooted plants with flaccid or limp stems and most of their vegetative mass is below the water surface, although small portions may stick above the water.
Floating plants come in sizes from very small (duckweed) to over a foot in diameter (water hyacinth). NOTE: Lily pads are attached to the bottom and are considered emergent plants, not floating.
Mosquito Fern
Mosquito Fern
Has tiny, green or rusty red, laced-looking free floating leaves that form dense mats. They can be found in still waters of swamps, ponds, lakes, and in slow-moving water of streams and resting on mud.
Common Salvinia
Common Salvinia
Can be found free-floating or in mud.
Duckweed
Duckweed
Native to Florida. It can be found in rivers, ponds and lakes. It comes in three variations: Common, Dotted, and Giant.
Giant Salvinia
Giant Salvinia
Non-native to Florida and on the noxious and prohibited lists. It grows rapidly and produces a dense floating canopy on the surface of ponds, lakes, and rivers that reduces water-flow and lowers the light and oxygen levels in the water.
Rooted Water Hyacinth
Rooted Water Hyacinth
Non-native and on the noxious and prohibited lists in Florida. They are located in coastal rivers and lakes. Leaves under water are long and thin, above water leaves are wide and usually spongy. It is very aggressive and can form thick mats.
Watermeal
Watermeal
Native to Florida. It is a tiny floating rootless plant that is barely visible to the naked eye. It forms large green masses on the surface of water about the size of a pinhead.
Water Hyacinth
Water Hyacinth
Non-native to Florida and often jams rivers and lakes. Underwater leaves are long and thin, above water are wide and usually spongy.
Water Lettuce
Water Lettuce
This floating plant forms large dense mats that prevent boating, fishing and other uses of rivers, lakes, and canals. Its leaves are light dull green, hairy, ridged, very thick and look like a head of lettuce.
