KORSMAN CONSERVANCY

AQUATIC AND WETLAND PLANTS

Aquatic plants, submerged or free floating, are a food source for waterfowl and fish.

Edible floating plants are Spirodela, Lemna gibba and Wolffia (very tiny plants) which have a high protein content.

Invasive Red Water Fern (Azolla filiculoides) is not edible. Recent infestations abated on their own - it is not known whether the biocontrol Frond feeding Weevil was present.

Sedges (see also Grasses page) can be emergent, ie. growing in water. Others grow in damp areas near water.

Invasive bulrushes and reeds have flourished in recent years due to the persistent high water level.

Persicaria species grow in marshy conditions, although two invasive persicarias dominate at Korsman. The pictured Persicaria attenuata and Persicaria decipiens are indigenous.

Persicaria attenuata is the host plant for Marsh Acraea butterflies.