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Zebra Mussel
Dreissena polymorpha
Zebra mussels are filter-feeding, freshwater, bivalve mollusks. Zebra mussels are small, ¼” to 1 ½” long, and D-shaped with light and dark brown stripes.
Yellow Floating Heart
Nymphoides peltata
Yellow floating heart is an herbaceous perennial that has stout, branching stems. The heart-shaped, almost circular, leaves are usually oppositely arranged and frequently purplish underneath. Bright yellow flowers have 5 petals and distinctively fringed edges. It spreads both vegetatively and by seeds.
Yellow Flag Iris
Iris pseudacorus
Yellow iris is an herbaceous perennial that can grow between 3-4 ft. The broad, lance-shaped leaves are stiff and erect. The yellow, showy flowers bloom from April to June.
Wild Parsnip
Pastinaca sativa
Wild parsnip is a biennial herb that grows to 2-5 ft. Alternate, compound, branched leaves have serrated edges. First year rosettes have pinnately compound leaves. Adult plants bloom June through August with small, five-petaled, yellow flowers arranged in a flat-topped, broad umbel of 2-6".
White Nose Syndrome
Pseudogymnoascus destructans
White nose syndrome is caused by an invasive (non-native) fungus, Pseudogymnoascus destructans, which affects hibernating bats. The fungus exists in caves and abandoned mines where bats spend the winter hibernating.
Wavyleaf Basketgrass
Oplismenus hirtellus subsp. undulatifolius
Wavyleaf basketgrass is a perennial grass with a distinctly hairy stem and leaf sheath. The deep green leaves are characteristically wavy and grow to about 1 inch wide and up to 4 inches long. The plant produces small, wispy flowers at the ends of its branches in the fall. Its seeds grow in 3-5 pairs of spikelets with long awns (pointed tips) that produce a sticky substance to aid in dispersal.
Waterwheel
Aldrovanda vesiculosa
Waterwheel is an herbaceous carnivorous, aquatic plant that captures small, aquatic invertebrates using clamshell-type traps, similar to the venus flytrap. It floats just below the water's surface and has stems 2-8 inches long, with whorls of 5-9 leaves. Waterwheel rarely flowers, but when it does, the small, greenish-white flowers emerge from the water, while the fruit capsules are held underwater.
Water Lettuce
Pistia stratiotes
Water lettuce is an often free-floating aquatic plant. It forms thick mats that block sunlight and slow or prevent the growth of native aquatic plants.
Water Hyacinth
Eichhornia crassipes
Water hyacinth is a free-floating, perennial, aquatic plant. In climates where it is unable to survive the winter, water hyacinth will grow as an annual. Its leaves are round, curved, glossy bright green and float above the water’s surface on bulbous stalks.
Water Chestnut
Trapa natans
Water chestnut is a fast-growing, floating annual that can grow to 16 ft. The most distinctive trait of this plant is its thorny nutlets.