Potamogeton illinoensis

Native to Florida

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Illinois pondweed is a common submersed plant. Illinois pondweed grows equally well in shallow ponds, lakes, and slow-movieng rivers from the peninsula west to the central panhandle of Florida (Wunderlin, 2003). It blooms from spring to fall.

Illinois pondweed has two primary leaf shapes: the floating leaves are more-or-less elliptic in shape, and are much longer than they are wide; typically to eight inches long. The leaves are on long leaf stems or "petioles". The submersed leaves are about the same size, but are more lance-shaped. Submersed leaves have pointed tips and pointed bases. Illinois pondweed's greenish flowers are on spikes that are one to three inches long.

For brief control information, see Weed Control in Florida Ponds by D.D. Thayer, K. A. Langeland, W.T. Haller, and J.C. Joyce.