Question: Hello. I am having a difficult time identifying the plant on the left in the picture I attached. I found …
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Question
Hello. I am having a difficult time identifying the plant on the left in the picture I attached. I found it in Lake Winnipesaukee in NH. It covers the bottom of the lake in the shallow swimming area that ranges between 1 to 5 meters deep. The leaf blade length in the sample is about 57mm. The largest plants I saw of the same species had blade lengths of no more than 150mm. I appreciate the help. Thank you.
Answer
Dear TimPratte, you have collected two different species of aquatic plants. The one on the left with broader leaves is Sagittaria graminea (grass-leaved arrowhead). The one on the left with narrower leaves is a species of Isoetes (quillwort, an aquatic fern ally). It is not possible for me to identify this species without viewing the megaspores found at the leaf base. Best wishes.
