| The plant resembles a floating open head of lettuce. Large colonies of water lettuce often completely cover
quiet rivers, canals, lakes and ponds, blocking water flow and boat traffic. Dense infestations of water lettuce are
known to provide excellent mosquito breeding habitat. Water lettuce has minimal wildlife value except for providing a
resting area for small fish and aquatic insects. |
The wild taro is an exotic plant imported from the Pacific Islands as an ornamental. Its leaves are
arrowhead-shaped withheart-shaped leaf bases. This plant generally grows
along the shoreline and can cause problems by shading out native vegetation.
It has limited value to wildlife and fisheries. |
| Cattail are extremely hardy and grow to cover large areas of wetlands, lakes and rivers. Cattail are probably
the most problematic plant associated with urban lakes. Dense stands of cattail provide little benefit to a lake’s
fishery and provide mosquito breeding sites. |
Water hyacinth is a noxious floating plant. The flower is showy light blue to violet. It is one of
the worst weeds in the world and is now under “maintenance control” in Florida. It is illegal to collect, transport, possess or cultivate this plant (Rule 62C-52.011
FAC). |
