Watershield

Other Common Names: dollar bonnet

(Brasenia schreberi)

Native

Watershield’s floating leaves are smaller than lilies, green on the top and brown and slimy on the bottom; flowers are typically brownish.

Description

Watershield has floating leaves two to five inches long that are smooth and green on top and jelly like and brown on bottom. Leaves alternate on long leaf stalks and are shield or oval shaped. The slim stem is rooted in mud. Small flowers about half an inch long with three or four petals each bloom in June to a brownish or purple color.

 

The leaves of watershield look like water lilies but are smaller and have no slit. Another difference is that water shield leaves are attached to the stem in the center, creating a look like that of a target. Ducks and other waterfowl eat the seeds, and muskrats and nutria enjoy the roots and stems.

Location

Watershield can be found across the United States.

Propagation

seeds, rhizomes