New Jersey Scuba Diving

Freshwater Plants

These are all true plants. In freshwater, much of the algal growth is in the form of slimes that grow on rocks, plants, and other surfaces, and of course microscopic phytoplankton. While freshwater algae is an important part of the ecosystem, it is not very remarkable to the typical scuba diver.

Algae

Microscopic Filamentous Green Algae — Microscopic Filamentous Green Algae ( plankton and attached )

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Cattail

Cattail

Typha latifolia

Size: to 7 ft

Habitat: water's edge

Notes:

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Arrow Arum

Arrow Arum

Peltandra viginica

Size: to 5 ft

Habitat: water's edge

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Great Duckweed

Duckweed

Spirodela polyrhiza

Size: to 0.1"

Habitat: floating free at surface

Notes: Among the smallest seed plants; important food for many waterfowl.

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Yellow Water Lily

Yellow Water Lily

Nuphar advena

Size: to 9" (leaves)

Habitat: rooted in muddy bottoms with leaves floating at the surface

Yellow is the most common color, but you may also find white and pink.

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Hornwort

Hornwort

Ceratophyllum demersum

Size: to 10 ft

Habitat: beneath the surface in quiet waters

Notes: May form dense thickets

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Mud Hole

Mud Hole

Deep and dark, the Mud Hole is the Hudson River's channel from a time when the oceans were much lower. Today it collects all the silt and sediment that the river carries out to the sea, making it a very fertile fishing ground, frequented by pelagic fishes and sharks. The contour shown on the chart is not any particular depth, but do give an idea of the location.

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