62 • Nebraska Game and Parks Commission
planktonic algae species produce lethal toxins
within the cell walls which are then secreted
from living cells or released after death. These
toxins can cause sickness, and even death,
to pets, livestock, wildlife (especially fish), and
humans. Filamentous green algae causes the
most problems for pond owners. It is a stringy,
hair-like plant, often called moss, that can form
mats which can completely cover the pond
surface. One type of algae, Chara spp., grows on
the pond bottom and has stem and leaf-like
features. They can be identified by their strong
musty odor or gritty texture when crushed
between fingers.
Floating plants are not attached to the
bottom by roots. They float freely on the surface
with roots hanging down in the water and
move with the prevailing winds. Duckweed
and the much smaller watermeal are common
floating plants. They can become very abundant
and cover the entire surface of smaller ponds
protected from the wind.
Filamentous
Green Algae
Filamentous
Green Algae
Green text = Submersed
Purple text = Emergent
AQUATIC
PLANTS
AQUATIC
PLANTS
Cattail
Bulrush
Cattail
Arrowhead
Coontail
American
Pondweed
Water Lily
Curly-leaf
Pondweed
Eurasian
Watermilfoil
Purple
Loosestrife
(noxious)
Knotted
Smartweed
Pickerelweed
Sedge
Floating Plants
Floating Plants
Duckweed Watermeal
(Shown larger than actual size).
