Pond Boss Forums AQUATIC VEGETATION Identifying plants What is this stuff?

What is this stuff?

When you mean "stuff", what are you talking about? I see at least 3-4 different plants (and FA) in each picture. If you are talking about the "stuff" that's floating on the water, that is algae.

If you can, get a small sample, put it on a white background, and take a clear close-up picture.

I mean by what types of grass or plants do you see mixed in?

Algae floating, a type of rush in the first image, along with what could be a type of reed (grassy looking plant next to it). I don't know what the wider leafed plant is.

The grassy plant could also be a type of canary grass.

Kelly, CJ, Catmandoo? A little help here please?

The photo's size and composition doesn't convey much detail for ID purposes. Sorta like taking a photo of a forest and hoping to ID a specific tree-specie.
When attempting to ID an aquatic organism with photo-submissions, take a close-up image of it (as close as your camera will focus) against a contrasting background, and include your hand or a coin in the image(for size-reference).
As Scott mentioned, there's definitely some filamentous algae there - and duckweed, I think. Also, possibly some umbrella sedge. Not sure about the rest due to too little detail.
I'm also able to make out a submerged plant (beneath the filamentous algae). In respect to your pond-mgmt objectives, the submerged plant is likely the most imported plant to have identified. When you take the close-up photo, don't just grab a handfull of it for the shot. Try to separate a single plant or stem from the mass (that includes leaf-arrangement and fruit/blooms - if any) and take a focused close-up photo of that structure.

I went out today and took SEVERAL pictures pf plants both aquatic and non aquatic, basically Plants in the water and on the bank of the pond. Can you guys tell me what each one might be and if it needs to be removed? Here is the link to the photos: http://s1222.photobucket.com/albums/dd497/pj123451/

I will give it a go on a few. Listed by album order not file name.

Pic 8, 17 is a type of thimble-berry. Big black tasty berries the animals get before you do.
Pic 5, 16, 18 Duckweed. Maybe you can get rid of it, but it is common AFAIK in ponds with a lot of nutrients.
Pic 14 is hard to tell without a sense of scale. Could be grass, could be something else.
Pic 13, seed heads of asters. Definitely a keeper.
Pic 12, Bittersweet. Great for making wreaths and winter decorations. May be a nuisance in the wrong places. I find in the right places is adds a nice splash of color in the winter.
Pic 11, no clue.
Pic 10, a mush of filament type algae. Probably a couple of types in there.
Pic 9, cannot tell.
Pic 7, creeping crud. Ok, seriously though someone else here may be better suited. I mostly know terrestrial stuff.
Pic 6, I think it is the same stuff I am trying to identify, I think it is native around NY. Perhaps: http://aquaplant.tamu.edu/plant-identification/alphabetical-index/curly-leafed-pondweed/

Pic 4 looks like dried-up Sweet Pea. Nice plant to look at, toxic to eat the beans.
Pic 3, everything green that grows in water. j/k
Pic 2, possibly Water Hemlock, our most toxic (if ingested) native species. http://www.natureskills.com/outdoor-safety/water-hemlock/ if you have kids or animals this is the one to nuke.
Pic 1, old dried algae caught in dried unidentifiable flowers.

-Mark

When looking for ID's on plants, quality photos with the correct lighting and in focus really help out.