Family: Cabombaceae
water-shield
[Brasenia peltata Pursh]
Robert Bierman
Kitty Kohout
University of Wisconsin - Madison (WIS-VP)
Etymology: Brasenia: for Christoph Brasen, 18th century Moravian missionary who collected plants in Greenland and Labrador
Plants: floating, perennial aquatic, all surfaces below the water covered in thick, slimy, gelatinous coating; from rhizomes
Leaves: elastic stalks attached to the center of the un-notched, elliptical leaf, the upper surface green and the lower surface purple
Flowers: purple to orange, 6-8-parted, 3/4" wide, held just above the water; blooms June-Aug.
Habitat: soft water less than 7' deep; in organic muck soil
Conservation Status: Native
Plants: floating, perennial aquatic, all surfaces below the water covered in thick, slimy, gelatinous coating; from rhizomes
Leaves: elastic stalks attached to the center of the un-notched, elliptical leaf, the upper surface green and the lower surface purple
Flowers: purple to orange, 6-8-parted, 3/4" wide, held just above the water; blooms June-Aug.
Habitat: soft water less than 7' deep; in organic muck soil
Conservation Status: Native
- young vegetative parts heavily coated with mucilage
- leaves floating, elliptic; veins radiating from the center of the leaf
- petiole long and attched to the center of the leaf
- flowers 3-parted; perianth parts dull purple
- fruits slightly to strongly fusiform
Flora of North America: Flora of North America Floristic Rating: Coefficient of Conservatism = 6, Wetland Indicator = OBL USDA Plants Database: Federal Distribution and detailed information including photos Dan Tenaglia's The Missouri Flora: Fabulous photographs; detailed descriptions; color and leave arrangement key. University of Wisconsin - Green Bay: Wetland Plants: Photos, descriptions, information USGS - Northern Prairie Wildlife Research Center: Wetland Plants and Plant Communities of Minnesota and Wisconsin USDA Agricultural Research Service (ARS): Images of seeds, fruits, embryos, etc.
Kitty Kohout
Robert W. Freckmann
Paul Skawinski
Paul Skawinski
Robert W. Freckmann
Paul Skawinski
Brenton Butterfield
Brenton Butterfield
Brenton Butterfield
Brenton Butterfield
