
Wetland vegetation 
The vegetation of the potholes themselves is extremely variable. Some 
of the most temporary water areas contain mainly dryland species, while open 
waters in some of the deeper potholes contain submerged plants. Emergents 
are usually found as a margin in the shallower water around the deeper pot- 
holes, or may grow completely across some of the shallower areas. Some 
potholes are practically bare, owing to the removal of vegetation by grazing, 
burning, plowing, or other factors; in these cases, revegetation is rapid 
once the disturbance is removed. 
Twenty-eight species commonly found in the prairie pothole region are 
listed here, in groups corresponding roughly to their tolerance to deep 
water. All the emergent species are tolerant to prolonged periods of drying 
out, and some may maintain themselves for years on unflooded soil, giving 
way to dryland species only under the pressure of competition. 
Submerged and floating plants found in the deepest water: 
Pondweeds (Potamogeton spp.) 
Wildcelery (Vallisneria americana) 
Duckweeds (Lemna spp. 
Coontail (Ceratophyllum demersum) 
Buttercups (Ranunculus spp.) 
Water milfoils (Myriophyllum spp.) 
Bladderworts (Utricularia spp.) 
Deep-water emergents: 
Cattail (Typha latifolia) 
Whitetop (Scolochloa festucacea) 
Softstem bulrush (Scirpus validus) 
Hardstem bulrush (S. acutus 
Sedges (Carex spp.) 
Shallow-water emergents?: 
Burreeds (Sparganium spp.) 
Arrowheads (Sagittaria spp.) 
Water plantain (Alisma plantago-aquatica) 
Mannagrass (Glyceria grandis, 
Reed (Phragmites communis 
el 
Slough grass (Beckmannia syzigachne) 
Spikerush (Eleochairis palustris) 
River bulrush (Scirpus fluviatilis) 
Alkali bulrush (Ss. paludosus 
Smartweeds (Polygonum spp.) 
(Si 
Water parsnip um suave 
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Plants of intermittently flooded shorelines: 
Wild barley (Hordeum jubatum) 
! Bluejoints (Calamagrostis spp.) 
