1. King County Weed Watchers 2008 Program

2. Introduction to plant categories Native: native plants are those that occur naturally in an area. They include rare or uncommon plants (such as water buttercup or buckbean), common, often aggressive plants (such as american waterweed or hardhack), and even a few that have invasive strains of the same species introduced from elsewhere (such as common reed).

3. Introduction to plant categories Introduced: introduced plants are those non-native plants that are growing in natural areas but are not causing significant damage (at least not yet!) These include escaped garden plants and weeds (such as creeping jenny), and other naturalized plants of unknown origin. Some, such as common forget-me-not, can be very difficult to tell from their native cousins (small-flowered forget-me-not). A few (such as narrow-leaved cattail) are being watched as potential noxious weeds. Creeping jenny Small- flowered & common forget- me-not Narrow-leaved cattail

4. Introduction to plant categories Noxious weeds: “noxious weed” is a legal designation – any introduced plant that is causing problems can be added to the official noxious weed list by the Washington State Noxious Weed Control Board (the process differs in other states). In Washington there are three main categories of noxious weeds.

5. Introduction to plant categories Noxious weed classification Class A weeds (such as hydrilla) have limited distribution in Washington. Preventing new infestations and eradicating existing ones are the highest priorities. Eradication of these species is required by law. Class B weeds (such as purple loosestrife and Brazilian elodea) are abundant in some areas of the state and less common in others. Regionally less common species are designated for control by the County Weed Board. Control and containment of these species is required by law. Class C weeds (such as fragrant waterlily) are common throughout most of Washington. Control is encouraged but not required by law.

6. Introduction to plant categories: the plot thickens Class C designate: weeds (such as common reed) that the King County Weed Board has designated as priority weeds in the County. Control and containment of Class C designate weeds is required by law. Class B non-designate: Class B weeds (such as Eurasian watermilfoil) that are so prevalent in the County that the County Weed Board does not require their control. Control is encouraged but not required by law. “Designate” vs. “Non-designate”

7. Introduction to plant categories: summary NATIVE generally beneficial INTRODUCEDusually not harmful NOXIOUSalways potentially destructive Class A Class B designate and non-designate Class C designate and non-designate Weed Watchers is concerned primarily with Class A weeds and Class B and C designate weeds

8. Plant identification

9. There are often multiple Common Names for one plant, and the multiple plants can have the same common name. Common names can be easier to remember, but they can confuse the identification of a particular plant. Latin Names can change over time as the scientific community updates taxonomy based on new research. Both Genus and species names can change over time. Latin names can be difficult to remember if you are unfamiliar with them, however, they are a more reliable identifier than common names. EXAMPLE: spatterdock = yellow pond lily = yellow water lily = Nuphar lutea = Nuphar polysepala A Note on Plant Names

10. Useful plant concepts: annual perennial rhizome Note: these and other botanical terms are described in appendix A of your field guide (An Aquatic Plant Identification Manual)

11. Important plant terms: leaf arrangements opposite alternate whorled compound leaf leaflet basal leaf axil

13. 10 submerged species you should be able to identify Latin nameCommon name Cabomba carolinianafanwort – Class B Ceratophyllum demersumcoontail -native Egeria densaBrazilian elodea – Class B Elodea canadensisAmerican waterweed - native Hydrilla verticilatahydrilla – Class A Myriophyllum spp.native watermilfoils Myriophyllum heterophyllumVariable watermilfoil – Class A Myriophyllum spicatumEurasian watermilfoil – Class B non-designate Potamogeton crispuscurly leaf pondweed – Class C non-designate Utricularia vulgariscommon bladderwort - native

14. Cabomba caroliniana Fanwort – Class B Key characteristics: submerged leaves opposite, fan-shaped small white flowers borne above the water plant can look cylindrical underwater Currently not in King County

15. Ceratophyllum demersum Coontail – Native Key characteristics: leaves narrow, forked and whorled on the stem inconspicuous flowers plant is stiff and holds its shape out of water

16. Egeria densa Brazilian elodea – Class B Key characteristics: smooth leaf edges leaves in whorls of 4 (up to 6) relatively showy flower grows in up to 20 feet of water

17. Elodea canadensis American waterweed – Native Key characteristics: leaves linear, whorled in 3s (sometimes 2-4) on the stem leaves sparse toward bottom of plant, more bunched together toward top branching stem fragments

18. Brazilian elodea vs. our native American waterweed Elodea canadensis Native has 3 leaflets Brazilian elodea has 4 leaflets

19. Hydrilla verticillata Hydrilla - Class A

20. Myriophyllum species: The trouble with milfoils # of leaflets variable and overlapping Stem color and thickness variable Flowering stalks helpful, but not always diagnostic DNA analysis sometimes necessary Got a new milfoil population? Send us a sample!

21. Myriophyllum heterophyllum Variable watermilfoil – new Class A Key characteristics: Submerged leaves: 5-18 leaflet pairs limp leaves in whorls of 4-6 densely packed, bottlebrush appearance Emergent leaves (bracts): Toothed, entire, stiff, less toothy higher on stem ½-1 inch long Stem green to red, robust Plants can grow in de-watered areas

22. variable watermilfoil Myriophyllum heterophyllum vs. western watermilfoil Myriophyllum hippuroides Bottom line: if it has emergent leaves, send it in!!! variable western Both have leaves on emergent flower stalks Both are rare or unknown in King County May require DNA analysis to tell apart

23. Key characteristics: 14 or more leaflet pairs leaves whorled usually red stem, branched leaves collapse against stem when pulled from water flower spike held above water Myriophyllum spicatum Eurasian watermilfoil – Class B non-designate

24. Eurasian watermilfoil – Myriophyllum spicatum vs. the native northern watermilfoil Myriophyllum sibiricum Eurasian water Milfoil has 14 or more leaflet pairs The native has fewer than 14 leaflet pairs Collapses out of water Holds shape out of water

25. Potamogeton crispus Curly leaf Pondweed - Class C non-designate Key characteristics: leaves distinctly wavy and stiff leaves olive green grows from early spring into summer major problem in the midwest but so far not a problem in Washington

26. Utricularia vulgaris Common bladderwort – Native Key characteristics: branched leaves conspicuous bulbous bladders green when young and turn black further down the stem carnivorous plant small yellow snapdragon-like flower is held above the water plant often prostrate on lake bottom

27. Native submerged species you should be familiar with Latin nameCommon name Isoetes spp.quillwort Najas flexilisslender water-nymph Potamogeton speciesnative pondweeds Ranunculus aquatiliswater buttercup Chara spp.muskgrass Nitella spp.nitella

28. Isoetes spp. Quillworts – Native Key characteristics: clumping plant with bulbous base leaves stiff, grass-like, hollow, generally less than 24cm long and taper to a point several species in Washington, all native, submerged species all evergreen no flowers; reproduces by spores

29. Najas flexilis Slender water-nymph – Native Key characteristics: branched stem, up to 2m long, fragments easily slender pointed leaves <3cm long cluster near top of stem leaf base clasps stem and is much broader than leaf blade flowers inconspicuous

30. Potamogeton spp. Submerged pondweeds – Native Key characteristics: many species leaves alternate, grass-like to oval, always have at least one mid-vein stems branched, flexible, up to 3m long small flowers/seedheads on spikes held above water

31. Ranunculus aquatilis water buttercup – Native Key characteristics: uncommon in western King County submerged leaves alternate, short stalked, highly branched occasionally present floating leaves are scalloped, <2cm wide white buttercup flowers with yellow centers are either held above water or submerged can be mistaken for fanwort (which has opposite leaves)

32. Chara spp. and Nitella spp. Plant-like algae – Native Key characteristics: algae has no leaves leaf-like branchlets form whorls around stem; undivided in Chara spp., evenly forked in Nitella spp. Chara spp. have strong, garlic-like odor, especially when crushed can be up to 2m long or as short as a few centimeters

33. Floating and mat-forming species you should be familiar with Latin nameCommon name Brasenia schreberiWatershield - native Nuphar luteaSpatterdock or yellow pond-lily - native Nymphaea odoratafragrant waterlily – Class C non-designate Nymphoides peltataYellow floating heart – Class B Potamogeton speciesnative pondweeds Myriophyllum aquaticum Parrotfeather – Class B Ludwigia peploidesFloating primrose-willow – Class A Ludwigia palustrisWater purslane - native

34. Brasenia schreberi Watershield – Native Key characteristics: Entire, oval leaves about 4” long with stem attached to center Inconspicuous purplish flowers stem, buds and lower leaf surface covered with slippery gelatinous substance

35. Nuphar lutea spatterdock, yellow pond lily – Native Key characteristics: very large heart-shaped leaves ball-shaped yellow flowers stems rigid enough to hold leaves out of water when water level drops

36. Nymphaea odorata Fragrant waterlily – Class C non-designate Key characteristics: floating perennial flowers white to pink on separate flexible stalks thick fleshy rhizomes round leaves

37. Nymphoides peltata Yellow Floating Heart – Class B Key characteristics: floating perennial small yellow flowers with distinctive fringes 2 to 5 flowers per stalk heart-shaped or round leaves, wavy margins, often purplish underneath Currently not in King County

38. Myriophyllum aquaticum Parrotfeather – Class B Key characteristics: emergent up to 1 ft. above water leaves in whorls around stem leaves feathery like milfoil dense mat of brownish rhizomes

39. Ludwigia peploides Floating Primrose-willow – Class A Key characteristics: prostrate or floating stems alternate, variable leaves bright yellow 5-petalled flowers in leaf axils Grows in up to 10 feet of water, can be up to 2 ½ feet tall

40. Ludwigia palustris water purselane – Native Key characteristics: leaves opposite, smooth edged, elliptical, on long stalks flowers inconspicuous, greenish, in leaf axils stem prostrate to erect or floating, fleshy can form floating mats

41. Emergent species you should be familiar with Latin nameCommon name Epilobium hirsutumhairy willowherb – Class C designate Iris pseudacorusyellow-flag iris – Class C non-designate Lysimachia vulgarisgarden loosestrife – Class B Lythrum salicariapurple loosestrife – Class B Phragmites australisCommon reed – Class C designate Polygonum amphibiumwater smartweed – native Polygonum hydropiperoideswaterpepper – native Potentilla palustrismarsh cinquefoil – native Spirea douglasiihardhack, Douglas spirea – native Typha angustifolianarrow-leaved cattail – non-native Typha latifoliacommon cattail – native Veronica americanaAmerican speedwell – native

42. Epilobium hirsutum Hairy willowherb – Class C designate Key characteristics: semi-aquatic perennial rhizometous herb to 6 feet tall leaves mostly opposite, toothed, lanceolate co-exists with purple loosestrife wind-dispersed seeds like fireweed flowers July and August manual control difficult due to rhizomes

43. Native Epilobium species There are many native epilobiums Fireweed (E. angustifolium) is tall and has showy flowers like hairy willowherb, but is an upland plant and usually will not be found in wet soils Several low growing, variable Epilobium species may be found in wet areas, but they will have small, relatively inconspicuous flowers Epilobium angustifolium Epilobium ciliatum

44. Iris pseudacorus – Yellow Flag Iris Class C non-designate Key characteristics: perennial monocot to 1.5 meters tall thick rhizomes form solid mats showy yellow flowers green seed pods with flat seeds like corn kernels that float

45. Lysimachia vulgaris Garden Loosestrife – Class B Key characteristics: perennial emergent with rhizomes up to 15 feet long showy yellow flowers clustered at top of plant leaves opposite or whorled (3-6) leaves sometimes have small orange or black glands stems round, occasionally fasciated (flattened) flowers July and August

46. Lythrum salicaria Purple loosestrife – Class B Key characteristics: perennial rhizomatous emergent with showy magenta flower spikes Branched stems are square, can root at nodes leaves opposite, lanceolate up to 2.5 million tiny seeds/plant

47. Phragmites australis Common Reed – Class B Key characteristics: 12+ foot tall rhizometous grass hollow woody stems wide stiff leaves large feathery flower head purplish when young, brown in seed Duwamish: First Avenue South

48. Native Polygonum species Key characteristics: Alternate lance-shaped leaves spikes of pink or white flowers P. amphibium is fairly common P. hydropiperoides is fairly uncommon Polygonum amphibium: Water smartweed Polygonum hydropiperoides: waterpepper

49. Potentilla palustris Marsh cinquefoil – Native Key characteristics: compound leaf with 3-7 sharply toothed leaflets at the end of a long stalk stems prostrate or floating, extend up to ½ meter above the water surface flowers have 5 reddish petals turning purple in late summer

50. Spirea douglasii hardhack, Douglas spirea – Native Key characteristics: woody deciduous shrub leaves alternate, oblong, toothed at the tip tiny pink flowers in large spikes at stem ends, appear fuzzy spent flower spikes are dark brown and persist through the winter can be mistaken for purple loosestrife image © Robert Flogaus-Faust

51. Cattails Typha latifolia: common cattail – native Typha angustifolia: narrow-leaf cattail – introduced Key characteristics: leaves narrow and up to 1.5 meters long stems round, pithy and up to 3 meters tall T.latifolia: male and female flowers adjacent on stem T. angustifolia:male and female flowers separated by 1-4cm on stem

52. Veronica americana American speedwell – Native Key characteristics: leaves oval to lance-shaped, toothed, opposite flowers blue-violet, small (<10mm), in groups on long stalks from leaf axils stems creeping to erect, <80cm grows in up to 4 inches of water