COMMON FLOATING PONDWEED 



shining green leaves, in a somewhat circular, irregular 

 form. The leaves are friendly but not crowded, 

 they give and take at the tension of sundry submerged 

 brown stems that anchor them and at the same time 

 give them free play. In early August one finds in 



Common Floating Pondweed. Potamogelon natans 



most groups, few or several dense bunches of tiny 

 pink flowers, on thick shining peduncles half under 

 water. 



The roots, Hke those of most water plants, have less 

 to do with the nourishment of the plant than the roots 

 of land plants. Their essential function seems to be 

 to hold the plant in place. This is one of the best 

 known Pondweeds, but the books report over forty 

 representatives in our northern waters. 



