Cattails (Typha)
Cattails have a brown, sausage-shaped “tail” full of tightly packed seeds on top of a long, stiff stalk.
Broadleaf and southern cattails are considered to be native to North America. Narrowleaf cattail is considered non-native, and considered to be invasive in some areas because they grow rapidly and crowd out other plant species.
Water Lily
Water Lilies are found in shallow and still fresh water, as in ponds, lakes, and the edges of slow-moving streams. Because they rest on the water’s surface, the flowers and pads provide shade, keeping the water cooler and preventing algae that thrive in heat from growing in excess. Water lilies also shelter fish from predatory birds and the heat of the sun.
Spatterdock
Spatterdock is a member of the water lily family and is a native aquatic plant that commonly occurs in wetlands. Spatterdock can be a valuable plant for fish and wildlife habitat providing food, shelter, and a place of breeding for many. Spatterdock is also a food recourse for deer, beavers, and muskrats.
