Aquatic plants: Is your plant in one of these subgroups?
Please go through the subgroups in order.
![Plant form: Eriocaulon aquaticum. ~ By Cheryl Lowe. ~ Copyright © 2025 New England Wild Flower Society. ~ Image Request, images[at]newenglandwild.org](https://newfs.s3.amazonaws.com/taxon-images-1000s1000/Eriocaulaceae/eriocaulon-aquaticum-ha-clowe.jpg)
![Plant form: Lobelia dortmanna. ~ By Marilee Lovit. ~ Copyright © 2025 Marilee Lovit. ~ lovitm[at]gmail.com](https://newfs.s3.amazonaws.com/taxon-images-1000s1000/Campanulaceae/lobelia-dortmanna-ha-mlovit-b.jpg)
![Plant form: Ludwigia palustris. ~ By Arthur Haines. ~ Copyright © 2025 Arthur Haines. ~ arthur.d.haines[at]gmail.com](https://newfs.s3.amazonaws.com/taxon-images-1000s1000/Onagraceae/ludwigia-palustris-ha-ahaines.jpg)
![Plant form: Proserpinaca palustris. ~ By Arthur Haines. ~ Copyright © 2025 Arthur Haines. ~ arthur.d.haines[at]gmail.com](https://newfs.s3.amazonaws.com/taxon-images-1000s1000/Haloragaceae/proserpinaca-palustris-ha-ahaines-b.jpg)
![Leaves: Sium suave. ~ By Marilee Lovit. ~ Copyright © 2025 Marilee Lovit. ~ lovitm[at]gmail.com](https://newfs.s3.amazonaws.com/taxon-images-1000s1000/Apiaceae/sium-suave-le-mlovit-a.jpg)
![Plant form: Sparganium angustifolium. ~ By Marilee Lovit. ~ Copyright © 2025 Marilee Lovit. ~ lovitm[at]gmail.com](https://newfs.s3.amazonaws.com/taxon-images-1000s1000/Typhaceae/sparganium-angustifolium-ha-mlovit-b.jpg)
![Plant form: Zostera marina. ~ By Ben Kimball. ~ Copyright © 2025 Ben Kimball. ~ alpinefin[at]comcast.net](https://newfs.s3.amazonaws.com/taxon-images-1000s1000/Zosteraceae/zostera-marina-ha-bkimball.jpg)
Water plants with leaves and stems
Milfoils, watershields, bladderworts, and other submerged plants
Key characteristics
These plants are differentiated into stems and leaves. They spend their lives under water or floating near the water's surface. They are larger than duckweeds and watermeal (next subgroup).
Exceptions
This is a diverse group. Leaves may look very thin and feathery or have bladders that help them float or capture prey.
Video about this subgroup
Water plants: leaves, stems
![Plant form: Spirodela polyrrhiza. ~ By Arthur Haines. ~ Copyright © 2025 Arthur Haines. ~ arthur.d.haines[at]gmail.com](https://newfs.s3.amazonaws.com/taxon-images-1000s1000/Araceae/spirodela-polyrrhiza-ha-ahaines-a.jpg)
Tiny water plants with no true stem
Duckweeds and other very small floating species
Key characteristics
These plants do not have distinct stems and leaves; instead, they have a thallus that may have roots hanging from the lower surface. They are minute plants that float on or near the surface of ponds and other still or slow-moving water bodies.
Exceptions
Some pieces of floating aquatic plants or algae may resemble these tiny plants, but will have differentiated leaves and stems.
Video about this subgroup
Tiny water plants: no true stemMy plant isn't in these subgroups.