Watershield in Turtle Cove - Photo by Don Yurewicz
Watershield leaves are oval, and the stem attaches to the center point on the underside of leaf. The underside of leaf dark is pink. The leaves are approximately 4 inches in diameter. Flower are dark pink to purple, emergent and visible next to leaves in July.
Identification Tips: A common characteristic of watershield is a jelly-like coating found on the underside of the leaf and on the stem that protects it from herbivores. This plant resembles the leaves of the water-lily as well as those of floating heart. The key difference is that the watershield’s stem is attached on the bottom center of the leaf and has flowers that are dark pink in color. Both white water-lily and floating heart have white flowers. Source: Aquatic Plants and Algae of New Hampshire’s Lakes and Ponds
Comments