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Aquatic Plant Identification Manual for Washington's Freshwater Plants
Shoreline Plants Index
Shoreline plants grow along edges of lakes, rivers, streams, and ponds or on wet ground away from open water. They have at least part of their stems, leaves, and flowers emerging above the water surface and are rooted in the sediments. Some plants that typically grow in deep water may be found along the shoreline in late summer when water levels are low.
The following are shoreline plants. Links below lead to written descriptions, photographs, and line drawings.
- Alisma gramineum - Narrowleaf Water-plantain
- Alisma triviale - American Water-plantain
- Carex spp. - Sedge
- Dulichium arundinaceaum - Three-way Sedge
- Elatine triandra - Mudwort
- Eleocharis acicularis - Needle Spike-rush- Small Spike-rush
- Equisetum fluviatile- Water Horsetail
- Gratiola ebracteata - Bractless Hedge-hyssop
- Gratiola neglecta - American Hedge-hyssop
- Hippuris vulgaris- Common Mare's-tail
- Juncus spp. - Rush
- Juncus supiniformis - Spreading Rush
- Lysimachia thysiflora - Tufted Loosestrife
- Lysimachia vulgaris - Garden Loosestrife
- Lythrum salicaria - Purple Loosestrife
- Marsilea vestita - Pepperwort
- Menyanthes trifoliata - Buckbean
- Myosotis laxa - Small-flowered Forget-me-not
- Myosotis scorpiodes - Common Forget-me-not
- Nasturtium officinale - Water Cress
- Phalaris arundinacea - Reed Canarygrass
- Polygonum amphibium - Water Smartweed
- Polygonum hydropiperoides - Waterpepper
- Potentilla palustris - Marsh Cinquefoil
- Sagittaria cuneata - Duck Potato
- Sagittaria latifolia - Duck Potato
- Scirpus acutus - Hardstem Bulrush
- Scirpus tabernaemontani - Softstem Bulrush
- Sparganium angustifolium - Narrow Leaf Bur-reed
- Sparganium eurycarpum - Giant Bur-reed
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