# 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. - **Category:** [Plants](https://www.snappit.app/explore/categories/plant) - **Rarity:** Common - **Danger:** 1/5 · Very low - **Snaps:** 9 - **Habitat:** Wetlands ![Watershield](https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?title=Special:Redirect/file/BraseniaAlt.jpg&width=800) Photo: No machine-readable author provided. Dacrycarpus~commonswiki assumed (based on copyright claims)., CC BY-SA 3.0 · [Wikimedia Commons](https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:BraseniaAlt.jpg) ## 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. ## Taxonomy - **Kingdom:** Plantae - **Phylum:** Tracheophyta - **Class:** Magnoliopsida - **Order:** Nymphaeales - **Family:** Cabombaceae - **Genus:** Brasenia ## 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 - **Floating Life Raft:** Watershield can form dense mats of leaves on the water's surface, creating sheltered habitats for small aquatic animals. - **Self-Cleaning Shield:** 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 - **Shelter:** [Largemouth Bass](https://www.snappit.app/explore/largemouth-bass) (*Micropterus salmoides*) — Hides among its dense floating mats. - **Eaten by:** Mallard (*Anas platyrhynchos*) — Eats its small, hard seeds. - **Shelter:** [Eastern Newt](https://www.snappit.app/explore/eastern-newt) (*Notophthalmus viridescens*) — Finds refuge within its leafy cover. - **Eats:** Great Pond Snail (*Lymnaea stagnalis*) — Grazes on its leaves and stems. ## Traits - [Flowering](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/flowering): Flowering plants are any plants that produce flowers as part of their reproductive cycle. - [Ornamental](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/ornamental): Ornamental plants are cultivated primarily for their aesthetic appeal, enhancing landscapes and gardens with their attractive foliage, flowers, or form. - [Summer Blooming](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/summer-blooming): Summer blooming plants produce their flowers during the summer season, often providing vibrant color when many other plants have finished. - [Broadleaf Tree](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/broadleaf-tree): Broadleaf trees are angiosperms characterized by flat, wide leaves that are typically shed annually in temperate climates. - [Pollinator Magnet](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/pollinator-magnet): Describes plants that are particularly attractive and beneficial to a wide range of pollinating organisms. - [Wetland](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/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. - [Freshwater](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/freshwater): Freshwater habitats include non-saline aquatic environments such as rivers, lakes, ponds, and wetlands, vital for numerous species. - [Aquatic](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/aquatic): Aquatic habitats encompass environments where organisms live predominantly in water, including oceans, rivers, lakes, and wetlands. ## Collections - [Plants](https://www.snappit.app/explore/collections/plants) ## Safety **Danger:** 1/5 · Very low Always stay close to an adult when exploring ponds and lakes. ## Frequently Asked Questions ### How to identify Watershield? Start with the whole plant, then compare leaf arrangement, leaf edges, stems and any flowers or fruit. Opposite leaves grow in pairs; alternate leaves come one at a time along the stem. These details tell you far more together than a single green leaf does. Plant Identifier: upload a photo and compare the visible details. ### How tall is Watershield? 5-15 cm ### How wide does Watershield spread? 50-200 cm ### How big are the flowers on Watershield? 1-2 cm ### When does Watershield bloom? Summer ### Is Watershield edible? Yes ### Is Watershield toxic? None ### What is Watershield's lifecycle? Perennial ## Where to spot - [Black Tern Bog State Natural Area](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/black-tern-bog-state-natural-area) — Wisconsin, US · State Park - [Hedgesville Historic District](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/hedgesville-historic-district) — West Virginia, US · Historic District - [Ravenswood Park](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/ravenswood-park) — US · Nature Reserve - [Harlan Spring Historic District](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/harlan-spring-historic-district) — West Virginia, US · Historic District - [Kentucky Ridge State Forest](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/kentucky-ridge-state-forest) — Kentucky, US · Forest - [Long Island](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/long-island) — Tennessee, US · Natural Landmark [View all places to see Watershield](https://www.snappit.app/guides/where-to-see/watershield) ## More Plants - [white snakeroot](https://www.snappit.app/explore/white-snakeroot) (*Ageratina altissima*) - [tree-of-heaven](https://www.snappit.app/explore/tree-of-heaven) (*Ailanthus altissima*) - [western sword fern](https://www.snappit.app/explore/western-sword-fern) (*Polystichum munitum*) - [common milkweed](https://www.snappit.app/explore/common-milkweed) (*Asclepias syriaca*) --- Source: [Watershield: Facts & Places to See — Snappit](https://www.snappit.app/explore/watershield)