Watershield

Brasenia schreberi

Watershield is a special plant that floats on water! It has big, round leaves that look like shields and can be found in ponds and lakes. Its flowers are small and pretty, making it a lovely sight in nature.

Habitat: Wetlands

Appearance

The Watershield has distinct oval-shaped leaves that float on the water's surface, often bright green above and a striking purplish-red underneath. Its submerged stems and undersides are covered in a unique, clear, jelly-like slime, making it visibly different from other water lilies.

KingdomPlantaePhylumTracheophytaClassMagnoliopsidaOrderNymphaealesFamilyCabombaceaeGenusBrasenia

Watershield

Interesting facts

Its underwater stems are super slimy, like natural jelly!

This plant is eaten as a tasty vegetable in some parts of the world!

Watershield flowers open twice, first to release, then to receive pollen!

Watershield is one of the oldest known flowering plants on Earth!

Special abilities

Watershield can form dense mats of leaves on the water's surface, creating sheltered habitats for small aquatic animals.

Watershield's waxy leaves and mucilaginous coating help repel water and prevent algae from attaching, keeping them clean.

Measurements & details

Height: 5-15 cm
Spread: 50-200 cm
Flower Size: 1-2 cm
Bloom Season: Summer
Edible: Yes
Toxicity: None
Lifecycle: Perennial
Pollination Method: Wind

Ecological connections

shelters

Largemouth Bass

Micropterus salmoides

Hides among its dense floating mats.

eaten by

Mallard

Anas platyrhynchos

Eats its small, hard seeds.

shelters

Eastern Newt

Notophthalmus viridescens

Finds refuge within its leafy cover.

eats

Great Pond Snail

Lymnaea stagnalis

Grazes on its leaves and stems.

Traits

Flowering

Flowering plants are any plants that produce flowers as part of their reproductive cycle.

Ornamental

Ornamental plants are cultivated primarily for their aesthetic appeal, enhancing landscapes and gardens with their attractive foliage, flowers, or form.

Summer Blooming

Summer blooming plants produce their flowers during the summer season, often providing vibrant color when many other plants have finished.

Broadleaf Tree

Broadleaf trees are angiosperms characterized by flat, wide leaves that are typically shed annually in temperate climates.

Pollinator Magnet

Describes plants that are particularly attractive and beneficial to a wide range of pollinating organisms.

Wetland

This habitat trait identifies species found in wetlands, which are areas of land saturated with water, either permanently or seasonally, including marshes, swamps, and bogs.