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Non-rooted floating aquatic plants are true vascular plants whose entire body floats on top of the water surface. These plants can range from very small species, around the size of a grain of sand, with barely visible green flowers, to larger plants that produce colorful flowers. This plant group is distinguished by having the entire plant floating on the surface of the water without roots protruding into the soil. There are five main types of non-rooted floating aquatic plants in Kentucky.
Mosquito fern has small fern-like leaves, about 1/2 inch to 1 inch long, that turn from green to red as the plant ages. Small roots dangle into the water from each leaf.
Water hyacinth is a free-floating plant that can grow to a height of 3 feet. The dark green leaf blades are circular to elliptical in shape with a thick root system. Water hyacinth has light blue to violet flowers. It is a very aggressive invader and can form thick mats.
Duckweed is a small, light green, free-floating, seed-bearing plant that has 1 to 3 leaves (fronds) that are about 1/16 inch in length. A single root, or root-hair, protrudes from each frond.
Bladderworts are about 8 inches tall, lack roots, and have yellow flowers on erect stems above the water. Underwater leaf branches are fleshy and inflated with air, which allows them to float. Leaves are whorled with 4 to 10 forked lateral leaves. Bladderworts have underwater leaves that bear small oval bladders that trap and digest small aquatic creatures. They are usually found in quiet, shallow, acidic waters and can form dense mats.
Watermeal is a very tiny, light green, free-floating, rootless plant that measures less than 1 millimeter. In fact, watermeal is the smallest seed-bearing plant in the world.
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