ID'ing Wild Plants from the Norm

Mr Aquarium · 03-05-2005, 11:02 AM

Not sure if anyone else could use info here, But,
What are some good Ways to tell if a wild plant is a real aquadic plant or just one
that happens to be covered in water?

**Damon** · 03-06-2005, 09:54 AM

Post a pic. It can be hard to tell sometimes, especiall if the aquatic plant is grown emmersed. Only time and experience will tell. Just ask someone who is knowledgeable about plants. Obviously as rose is easy to tell but many make the mistake that pothos is aquatic because we use it that way but it isnt.

**Fishfirst** · 03-07-2005, 06:28 PM

Since your from Iowa, I would suspect we have similar plants... I recently took a course in plant ID just give me a pick and I might be able to help out.

Mr Aquarium · 03-09-2005, 02:59 PM

ok here are a couple pictures of it, one of them the fish have nocked loose so you can see the root system of these.

These came out of a river that is from the lake near us, come through the spillway and down the river it goes, Chariton River to be Exact, runs out of Lake Rathbun,
The water was freakin cold that day and I only grabbed what i could stand to put my hand in the water.
this was growing just in the water, and the water was running a few feet deeper before I got there, I walked right through the mud up on the boat ramp where it was.
Any Help on this I will be thankfull for,

Thanks guys,

Oh I forgot, these have been planted in tank around a week or so now.

**Damon** · 03-09-2005, 07:45 PM

I cant give you a deffinite answer, but that plant looks like it is not fully aquatic. Meaning it probably spends some of the season submersed but likely spends the majority emmersed.

**Fishfirst** · 03-09-2005, 07:58 PM

definately an emergant plant... you say you got it in a stream??? usually means you can narrow it down to a few species... but this... this I think might not be entirely aquatic

Mr Aquarium · 03-11-2005, 01:14 AM

Well something is going on with a couple of these plants,
There is one on this end of the tank right here when i can see it, and i have been watching it close
the last few days, I I really think this one is growing taller, looks to be at least a 1/2'' taller then when i started this tread. I just looked at the pic i posted and I really think it is.
Just gave a once over on the rest of them and I think there are a few of them that are taller.
will keep you posted.

p. tang · 03-11-2005, 05:54 PM

This isnt in every case, but most fully aquatic plants will have a harder time supporting themselves upright when they are emerged. Some exceptions like anubias and crypts that seem to be stronger. And from the looks of the one posted I'd say emergent as well.

Mr Aquarium · 03-11-2005, 10:35 PM

What would happen to these if I was to rig up something that would hold the plant out of the water and the root and maybe part of the stems be submerged?
Would they grow very well with such a set up?
I did find a bunch of a couple different types at the lake last year and I believe they were the same type of deal as these are also, Would be interesting to do something like this just to see how things would go.

**Damon** · 03-12-2005, 09:46 AM

Best bet is to put it into a pot and on a windowsill. Real aquatic plants can be purchased cheap from many sources on-line and locally. The variety may not be there locally but you know they will survive the water submerged.

LeafGoblinFish · 03-15-2005, 07:02 AM

along with going to the store and buying some aquatic plants...if you dont go through proper sterilization procedures with wild plants, aquatic or not, you can spread problems in your tank with parasites and diseases. i made the mistake of giving one of my turtles an eye infection due to some duck weed that i found in a nearby pond AND i thought i cleaned it pretty well. also if you are looking for some pretty cheap aquatic plants...check out some aquatic plant websites and look at their pictures then jump on aquabid and see if anyone on there has it for cheaper

**Damon** · 03-15-2005, 07:48 AM

Aquabid is a great place to get plant packages. Cheap too. You could get 5 or 6 plants in a package for less than 20.00 with shipping. Or check out aquaticplantcentral.com. They have sponsors that also sell plants. Many give discounts to active members. Many members also sell their clippings cheap.

03-05-2005, 11:02 AM	#1
Mr Aquarium Senior Member Join Date: Jan 2005 Location: Southern Iowa Age: 43 Posts: 499	ID'ing Wild Plants from the Norm Not sure if anyone else could use info here, But, What are some good Ways to tell if a wild plant is a real aquadic plant or just one that happens to be covered in water?

03-06-2005, 09:54 AM	#2
Damon Aquatic Naturalist Join Date: Jan 2005 Location: Dayton, Ohio Age: 32 Posts: 14,982	Re: ID'ing Wild Plants from the Norm Post a pic. It can be hard to tell sometimes, especiall if the aquatic plant is grown emmersed. Only time and experience will tell. Just ask someone who is knowledgeable about plants. Obviously as rose is easy to tell but many make the mistake that pothos is aquatic because we use it that way but it isnt. __________________ For in much wisdom [is] much grief: and he that increaseth knowledge increaseth sorrow. Member of the AGA (Aquatic Gardner's Association) Member of the IBC (International Betta Congress)

03-07-2005, 06:28 PM	#3
Fishfirst Fish Guru Join Date: Jan 2005 Location: Northern Wisconsin Age: 24 Posts: 3,541	Since your from Iowa, I would suspect we have similar plants... I recently took a course in plant ID just give me a pick and I might be able to help out. __________________ 210 Gal Reef w/ 55 Gallon Sump/Fuge, 125 Gal Fish Only, 65 Gal Seahorse-29 Gallon Sump, 55 Gal FOWLR, 54 Gal Corner FW Community, 20 Gal Nano FOWLR, 55 Gal Piranha, 29 gallon QT "All the yellow tangs and clownfish in the world can't save you now! hahahah" Peter from Family Guy

03-09-2005, 02:59 PM	#4
Mr Aquarium Senior Member Join Date: Jan 2005 Location: Southern Iowa Age: 43 Posts: 499	Re: ID'ing Wild Plants from the Norm ok here are a couple pictures of it, one of them the fish have nocked loose so you can see the root system of these. These came out of a river that is from the lake near us, come through the spillway and down the river it goes, Chariton River to be Exact, runs out of Lake Rathbun, The water was freakin cold that day and I only grabbed what i could stand to put my hand in the water. this was growing just in the water, and the water was running a few feet deeper before I got there, I walked right through the mud up on the boat ramp where it was. Any Help on this I will be thankfull for, Thanks guys, Oh I forgot, these have been planted in tank around a week or so now.

03-09-2005, 07:45 PM	#5
Damon Aquatic Naturalist Join Date: Jan 2005 Location: Dayton, Ohio Age: 32 Posts: 14,982	Re: ID'ing Wild Plants from the Norm I cant give you a deffinite answer, but that plant looks like it is not fully aquatic. Meaning it probably spends some of the season submersed but likely spends the majority emmersed. __________________ For in much wisdom [is] much grief: and he that increaseth knowledge increaseth sorrow. Member of the AGA (Aquatic Gardner's Association) Member of the IBC (International Betta Congress)

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03-09-2005, 07:58 PM	#6
Fishfirst Fish Guru Join Date: Jan 2005 Location: Northern Wisconsin Age: 24 Posts: 3,541	definately an emergant plant... you say you got it in a stream??? usually means you can narrow it down to a few species... but this... this I think might not be entirely aquatic __________________ 210 Gal Reef w/ 55 Gallon Sump/Fuge, 125 Gal Fish Only, 65 Gal Seahorse-29 Gallon Sump, 55 Gal FOWLR, 54 Gal Corner FW Community, 20 Gal Nano FOWLR, 55 Gal Piranha, 29 gallon QT "All the yellow tangs and clownfish in the world can't save you now! hahahah" Peter from Family Guy

03-11-2005, 01:14 AM	#7
Mr Aquarium Senior Member Join Date: Jan 2005 Location: Southern Iowa Age: 43 Posts: 499	Re: ID'ing Wild Plants from the Norm Well something is going on with a couple of these plants, There is one on this end of the tank right here when i can see it, and i have been watching it close the last few days, I I really think this one is growing taller, looks to be at least a 1/2'' taller then when i started this tread. I just looked at the pic i posted and I really think it is. Just gave a once over on the rest of them and I think there are a few of them that are taller. will keep you posted.

03-11-2005, 05:54 PM	#8
p. tang Junior Member Join Date: Feb 2005 Posts: 3	Re: ID'ing Wild Plants from the Norm This isnt in every case, but most fully aquatic plants will have a harder time supporting themselves upright when they are emerged. Some exceptions like anubias and crypts that seem to be stronger. And from the looks of the one posted I'd say emergent as well.

03-11-2005, 10:35 PM	#9
Mr Aquarium Senior Member Join Date: Jan 2005 Location: Southern Iowa Age: 43 Posts: 499	Re: ID'ing Wild Plants from the Norm What would happen to these if I was to rig up something that would hold the plant out of the water and the root and maybe part of the stems be submerged? Would they grow very well with such a set up? I did find a bunch of a couple different types at the lake last year and I believe they were the same type of deal as these are also, Would be interesting to do something like this just to see how things would go.

03-12-2005, 09:46 AM	#10
Damon Aquatic Naturalist Join Date: Jan 2005 Location: Dayton, Ohio Age: 32 Posts: 14,982	Re: ID'ing Wild Plants from the Norm Best bet is to put it into a pot and on a windowsill. Real aquatic plants can be purchased cheap from many sources on-line and locally. The variety may not be there locally but you know they will survive the water submerged. __________________ For in much wisdom [is] much grief: and he that increaseth knowledge increaseth sorrow. Member of the AGA (Aquatic Gardner's Association) Member of the IBC (International Betta Congress)

03-15-2005, 07:02 AM	#11
LeafGoblinFish Member Join Date: Mar 2005 Location: Florida Posts: 40	Re: ID'ing Wild Plants from the Norm along with going to the store and buying some aquatic plants...if you dont go through proper sterilization procedures with wild plants, aquatic or not, you can spread problems in your tank with parasites and diseases. i made the mistake of giving one of my turtles an eye infection due to some duck weed that i found in a nearby pond AND i thought i cleaned it pretty well. also if you are looking for some pretty cheap aquatic plants...check out some aquatic plant websites and look at their pictures then jump on aquabid and see if anyone on there has it for cheaper

03-15-2005, 07:48 AM	#12
Damon Aquatic Naturalist Join Date: Jan 2005 Location: Dayton, Ohio Age: 32 Posts: 14,982	Re: ID'ing Wild Plants from the Norm Aquabid is a great place to get plant packages. Cheap too. You could get 5 or 6 plants in a package for less than 20.00 with shipping. Or check out aquaticplantcentral.com. They have sponsors that also sell plants. Many give discounts to active members. Many members also sell their clippings cheap. __________________ For in much wisdom [is] much grief: and he that increaseth knowledge increaseth sorrow. Member of the AGA (Aquatic Gardner's Association) Member of the IBC (International Betta Congress)

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